Brandon McNulty from team UAE Emirates becomes the first cyclist with two general classification wins at CRO Race
# Brandon McNulty Makes History with Second CRO Race Win
**ZAGREB, October 5, 2025** – In a landmark achievement, Brandon McNulty from Team UAE Emirates has become the first cyclist to secure two general classification victories at the CRO Race. Announced at the official closing ceremony in Zagreb, McNulty’s win was celebrated by various dignitaries, including Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina, who represented Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, along with envoy of the President of Croatian Parliament Maksimilijan Šimrak and deputy mayor of Zagreb Luka Korlaet.
The 27-year-old American from Phoenix successfully defended his title from the previous year, finishing with a 1:39 lead over Italian Edoardo Zambanini from Bahrain Victorious and 1:49 ahead of Polish cyclist Michał Kwiatkowski. “We knew the most important stage would be the fourth with the steep climb, and we just needed to hang in there for the last two days. Today was a bit harder because it was very cold,” said McNulty.
This victory marks McNulty’s third win at week-long stage races this season, following triumphs in Poland and Luxembourg in August and September, respectively. Additionally, he claimed victory three weeks ago at the one-day World Tour race Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. Reflecting on an outstanding year, he stated, “This has been a very good year for me. Now it’s time to rest; I’ll start thinking about next season in December.”
In terms of individual accolades at the race, the blue jersey for the points classification was awarded to Frenchman Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), who excelled with four stage wins. The green jersey for the best climber went to Dutch cyclist Casper van der Woude (Metec-Solarwatt p/b Mantel), while Slovenian Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious) took home the white jersey as the best young rider.
The final sixth stage saw Israeli national champion Oded Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech) triumphant in difficult conditions, with heavy rainfall leading to a quick sprint finish in front of the National and University Library in Zagreb. Kogut was followed closely by Magnier and British cyclist Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers).
The competition for the title of Most Aggressive Rider of this year’s race was secured by Czech cyclist Martin Voltr (ATT Investments), who made a mark by participating in early breakaways. Voltr’s efforts saw him clinching first place in various intermediate sprints and climbs throughout the race.
The vibrant atmosphere at the finish line was bolstered by the presence of numerous guests and sponsors, as Minister Tonči Glavina emphasized the significance of CRO Race in promoting both sports and tourism in Croatia. “This tenth edition of CRO Race has once again proven its quality and importance, both in sports and in tourism. Thanks to this competition, images of today’s best cyclists have travelled around the world, displaying our country as an appealing tourist destination,” Glavina noted.
A highlight of the event was the conclusion of the Kids CRO Race, celebrating young cyclists. Notable winners included Vanja Kaurloto from Split and Domagoj Pribil from Samobor in the 9-10 year-old category, and Nicole Nižić from Rijeka, who took first place in the 11-12 category.
This year’s CRO Race, which took place from September 30 to October 5, covered nearly 1,000 kilometres across Croatia and featured twenty teams from various UCI categories. It continues to enhance the visibility of Croatia’s cultural and natural beauty while enjoying support from numerous governmental and corporate sponsors.
