Alexander Kristoff takes victory number 96 of his pro career on stage 1 of Cro Race 2024

The vastly experienced Alexander Kristoff has taken the victory on the opening stage of the 2024 Cro Race, sprinting into the early race lead as a result, his 96th professional triumph as a rider.

Five riders found their way into the day's breakaway, but ahead of the day's big climbing test, the break exploded after a crash, with a couple of the attacks coming down hard on the gravel. Although the remaining four riders regrouped up ahead, their advantage over the peloton had slipped from around 7 minutes to just 4, with the biggest climbing test still to come.

At 14km to go, the entirety of the break had been reeled in, as the focus fully turned toward the upcoming bunch sprint finale to the day. In a frantic fight for the line, it was Uno-X Mobility's Alexander Kristoff that powered to the victory ahead of Giovanni Lonardi and Alberto Bruttomesso.