Second for Oded Kogut on stage 5 of Cro Race
Oded Kogut recorded his best result since winning the Israeli road and TT championships in June on Saturday as he finished second on stage 5 of Cro Race.
Kogut was narrowly beaten by Alexander Kristoff – a rider at the opposite end of his career compared to the 23-year-old IPT rider – after riding a near-perfect final kilometer.
The Israeli rider placed sixth in the race’s opening stage on Tuesday but, after Thursday’s rain-soaked day in the saddle and Friday’s Queen stage, he can rightly take heart from this strong showing.
“So, second place is not too bad,” he says. “We should be happy and stay positive but, of course, we want more.
“The guys did a really amazing job today, protecting me, covering me, and helping me to save my legs for the sprint.”
Aside from the Nationals, this result matches Kogut’s best placing of the season, which he took in the Ronde van Overijssel one-day race in May. He also finished on the podium at Antwerp Port Epic (another race won by Kristoff), so proof of his potential is there to see.
Kogut agrees, saying: “We feel it coming – I’m staying positive, and the next one should be a win.”
His Canadian teammate Pier-André Côte remains on course for a top-10 finish on GC. Côté goes into Sunday’s final stage in sixth, just nine seconds off the podium.
