4Islands MTB Croatia is the latest edition of the Epic Series, which offers an unrivaled experience, with spectacular landscapes, ferry transfers and many off-road kilometers.
More than 230 teams (made up of 2 people) from over 35 nations, started with the Prologue 13 kilometers long and 300m in altitude. After the “beating” in the Cape Epic, the current world champion Andreas Seewald and his partner Canyon Northwave MTB, Martin Stošek, are ready for the rematch. However, the short course did not favor Canyon Northwave MTB, and they finished fifth.
Martin Frey and Simon Stiebjahn of the Singer Racing Team were the best ahead of the duo Wilier Pirelli Wout Alleman and Gioele De Cosmo. Third position also for Wilier Pirelli, who leads a Team 2 made up of Fabien Rabesteiner and Daniel Geismayr.
“This is our first time in Croatia and 4Islands, and we loved the Prologue route; at the beginning he was technical with some fast parts and a steep climb, a good combination, ”said Stiebjahn. “Wearing the yellow jersey is great because we can score others and react to their moves as they try to close the gap with us. Fortunately, the climbs are not too long, so we will ride at our pace, but when it gets technical, we will take the opportunity to increase our gap ”.
The women's category race saw Costanza Fasolis and Claudia Peretti of Olympia - RDR Italia secure the victory of the Prologue and the leader jerseys of Ciovita 4Islands. 43 seconds behind them were Lejla Tanovic and Stefanie Dohrn of Team Allebike Canyon Northwave. MTB Pro Merchandising Racing took the podium of the female category in 0:37:05.
“Croatia is such a great place to race,” explained Peretti. “The trails and the rocks are perfect for us because we love the technical sections; we knew the path of the Prologue well, which helped us today ”.
ORDER OF ARRIVAL
| 1. | Singer Racing |  | Martin FREY | | Simon STIEBJAHN | 1:39:14 | - |
| 2. | Willier Pirelli 2 |  | Wout ALLEMAN |  | Joel DE COSMO | 1:40:19 | + 1: 05 |
| 3. | Willier Pirelli |  | Daniel GEISMAYR | | Fabian RABENSTEINER | 1:41:33 | + 2: 19 |
| 4. | HUGE BUFF |  | Hugo DRECHOU |  | Peeter Pruus | 1:41:42 | + 2: 28 |
| 5. | SCOTT - Bernina Sport |  | Fadri BARANDUN | | Andrin BEELI | 1:44:31 | + 5: 17 |
| 6. | Costa / Stadler | | Alexander STADLER | | Fabian COSTA | 1:44:31 | + 5: 17 |
| 7. | STOP & GO Marderabwehr MTB | | Niklas SELL | | Vincent DORN | 1:44:36 | + 5: 22 |
| 8. | KTM Alchemist Powered Brenta Brakes | | Mattia LONGA | | Dario CHERCHI | 1:44:36 | + 5: 22 |
| 9. | Bottecchia Factory Two | | Francis BONETTO | | Joseph PANIARELLO | 1:44:46 | + 5: 32 |
| 10 | BikeKaiser | | Wolfgang KRENN | | Kampelmuller MICHAEL | 1:44:54 | + 5: 40 |
