# 2018 Tour of Croatia

The 2018 Tour of Croatia was a road cycling stage race that took place in Croatia between 17 and 22 April 2018. It was the fourth edition of the Tour of Croatia since its revival in 2015, and was rated as a 2.HC event as part of the 2018 UCI Europe Tour.
The race was won by Bahrain–Merida's Kanstantsin Sivtsov.

## Teams

Nineteen teams were invited to start the race. These included three UCI WorldTeams, 11 UCI Professional Continental teams and five UCI Continental teams.
UCI WorldTeams
* Astana
* Bahrain–Merida
* Trek–Segafredo
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Aqua Blue Sport
* Bardiani–CSF
* Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
* CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice
* Gazprom–RusVelo
* Holowesko Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources
* Israel Cycling Academy
* Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini
* Team Novo Nordisk
* Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij
* WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic
UCI Continental teams
* Adria Mobil
* Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes
* Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum
* Meridiana–Kamen
* MsTina–Focus

## Schedule

Stage schedule :
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 17 April | Osijek to Koprivnica | 227 km (141.1 mi) | Hilly stage | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) |
| 2 | 18 April | Karlovac to Zadar | 234.5 km (145.7 mi) | Hilly stage | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) |
| 3 | 19 April | Trogir–Okrug to Sveti Jure–Biokovo | 134 km (83.3 mi) | Mountain stage | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) |
| 4 | 20 April | Starigrad to Crikvenica | 171 km (106.3 mi) | Hilly stage | Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) |
| 5 | 21 April | Rabac to Učka | 156.5 km (97.2 mi) | Mountain stage | Manuele Boaro (ITA) |
| 6 | 22 April | Samobor to Zagreb | 151.5 km (94.1 mi) | Flat stage | Paolo Simion (ITA) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 17 April 2018 — Osijek to Koprivnica, 227 km (141.1 mi)

Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 5h 45' 25" |
| 2 | Andrea Guardini (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 0" |
| 3 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | + 0" |
| 4 | Riccardo Minali (ITA) | Astana | + 0" |
| 5 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 6 | Marko Kump (SLO) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 0" |
| 7 | John Murphy (USA) | Holowesko Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources | + 0" |
| 8 | Žiga Jerman (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 0" |
| 9 | Federico Zurlo (ITA) | MsTina–Focus | + 0" |
| 10 | Jimmy Duquennoy (BEL) | WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 5h 45' 15" |
| 2 | Jon Božič (SLO) | Adria Mobil | + 1" |
| 3 | Andrea Guardini (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 4" |
| 4 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | + 6" |
| 5 | Riccardo Minali (ITA) | Astana | + 10" |
| 6 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 10" |
| 7 | Marko Kump (SLO) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 10" |
| 8 | John Murphy (USA) | Holowesko Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources | + 10" |
| 9 | Žiga Jerman (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 10" |
| 10 | Federico Zurlo (ITA) | MsTina–Focus | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 18 April 2018 — Karlovac to Zadar, 234.5 km (145.7 mi)

Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | 5h 38' 11" |
| 2 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 3 | Riccardo Minali (ITA) | Astana | + 0" |
| 4 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 4" |
| 5 | Juan José Lobato (ESP) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | + 4" |
| 6 | Josip Rumac (CRO) | Meridiana–Kamen | + 4" |
| 7 | Žiga Jerman (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 4" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 4" |
| 9 | Andrea Guardini (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 4" |
| 10 | Marko Kump (SLO) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 8" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | 11h 23' 22" |
| 2 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 8" |
| 3 | Riccardo Minali (ITA) | Astana | + 10" |
| 4 | Andrea Guardini (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 12" |
| 5 | Jon Božič (SLO) | Adria Mobil | + 12" |
| 6 | Riccardo Stacchiotti (ITA) | MsTina–Focus | + 17" |
| 7 | Žiga Jerman (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 18" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 18" |
| 9 | Josip Rumac (CRO) | Meridiana–Kamen | + 18" |
| 10 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 18" |

### Stage 3
#### 19 April 2018 — Trogir–Okrug to Sveti Jure–Biokovo, 134 km (83.3 mi)

Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 3h 51' 32" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 4" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 49" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 56" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 38" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 01" |
| 7 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 2' 27" |
| 8 | Rubén Acosta (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 2' 42" |
| 9 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 2' 51" |
| 10 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 3' 42" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 15h 15' 10" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 8" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 47" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 1' 06" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 48" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 11" |
| 7 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 2' 33" |
| 8 | Rubén Acosta (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 2' 52" |
| 9 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 3' 01" |
| 10 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 3' 48" |

### Stage 4
#### 20 April 2018 — Starigrad to Crikvenica, 171 km (106.3 mi)

Result of Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 3h 56' 57" |
| 2 | Enrico Barbin (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 12" |
| 3 | Jan Tratnik (SLO) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 12" |
| 4 | Fabian Lienhard (SUI) | Holowesko Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources | + 12" |
| 5 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 12" |
| 6 | Žiga Ručigaj (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 12" |
| 7 | Federico Zurlo (ITA) | MsTina–Focus | + 12" |
| 8 | Adrian Kurek (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 12" |
| 9 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 12" |
| 10 | Kristian Sbaragli (ITA) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 12" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 19h 12' 19" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 8" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 47" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 1' 06" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 48" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 11" |
| 7 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 2' 33" |
| 8 | Rubén Acosta (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 2' 52" |
| 9 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 3' 01" |
| 10 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 3' 48" |

### Stage 5
#### 21 April 2018 — Rabac to Učka, 156.5 km (97.2 mi)

Result of Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Manuele Boaro (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 4h 15' 54" |
| 2 | Łukasz Owsian (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 7" |
| 3 | Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 10" |
| 4 | Jonathan Cañaveral (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 12" |
| 5 | Tadej Pogačar (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 24" |
| 6 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 24" |
| 7 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 47" |
| 8 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 48" |
| 9 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | + 48" |
| 10 | Nick van der Lijke (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 52" |
General classification after Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 23h 29' 01" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 8" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 53" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 1' 15" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 24" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 10" |
| 7 | Rubén Acosta (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 3' 01" |
| 8 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 3' 08" |
| 9 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 3' 37" |
| 10 | Domen Novak (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 4' 15" |

### Stage 6
#### 22 April 2018 — Samobor to Zagreb, 151.5 km (94.1 mi)

Result of Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Paolo Simion (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 3h 21' 39" |
| 2 | Mirco Maestri (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 11" |
| 3 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | + 25" |
| 4 | Fabian Lienhard (SUI) | Holowesko Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources | + 25" |
| 5 | Sondre Holst Enger (NOR) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 28" |
| 6 | Alex Kirsch (LUX) | WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic | + 28" |
| 7 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 28" |
| 8 | Juan José Lobato (ESP) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | + 28" |
| 9 | Vincenzo Albanese (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 32" |
| 10 | Enrico Barbin (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 32" |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 26h 51' 12" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 11" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 1' 01" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 1' 18" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 27" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 19" |
| 7 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 3' 27" |
| 8 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 3' 37" |
| 9 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 4' 23" |
| 10 | Domen Novak (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 4' 38" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2018 Tour of Croatia, four different jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers at intermediate sprints (three seconds to first, two seconds to second and one second to third) and at the finish of mass-start stages; these were awarded to the first three finishers on all stages: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. The leader of the classification received a red jersey; it was considered the most important of the 2018 Tour of Croatia, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Points for the mountains classification :
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Points for Hors-category | 20 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Points for Category 1 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a blue jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 16 for third, 14 for fourth, 12 for fifth, 10 for sixth and a point fewer per place down to 1 point for 15th place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued – awarded on a 5–3–1 scale – at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification as noted above.
There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a green jersey. In the mountains classification, points towards the classification were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorised as either hors, first, second, or third-category, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. The fourth and final jersey represented the classification for young riders, marked by a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1996 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Niccolò Bonifazio | Niccolò Bonifazio | Niccolò Bonifazio | Emil Dima | Jon Božič | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum |
| 2 | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Peter Koning | Jon Božič | Astana |
| 3 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Yevgeniy Gidich | Astana |
| 4 | Alessandro Tonelli | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Yevgeniy Gidich | Astana |
| 5 | Manuele Boaro | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Alessandro Tonelli | Peter Koning | Yevgeniy Gidich | Bahrain–Merida |
| 6 | Paolo Simion | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Peter Koning | Yevgeniy Gidich | Bahrain–Merida |
| Final | Final | Kanstantsin Sivtsov | Eduard-Michael Grosu | Peter Koning | Yevgeniy Gidich | Bahrain–Merida |

## Final standings

Legend :
* Denotes the leader of the General classification
* Denotes the leader of the Points classification
* Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification
* Denotes the leader of the Young rider classification

### General classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 26h 51' 12" |
| 2 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 11" |
| 3 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | + 1' 01" |
| 4 | Radoslav Rogina (CRO) | Adria Mobil | + 1' 18" |
| 5 | Niklas Eg (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 27" |
| 6 | Daniel Pearson (GBR) | Aqua Blue Sport | + 2' 19" |
| 7 | Artem Nych (RUS) | Gazprom–RusVelo | + 3' 27" |
| 8 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 3' 37" |
| 9 | Jonathan Lastra (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 4' 23" |
| 10 | Domen Novak (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 4' 38" |

### Points classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Eduard-Michael Grosu (ROU) | Nippo–Vini Fantini–Europa Ovini | 67 |
| 2 | Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 47 |
| 3 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 37 |
| 4 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 37 |
| 5 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | 35 |
| 6 | Mirco Maestri (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 34 |
| 7 | Jon Božič (SLO) | Adria Mobil | 33 |
| 8 | Riccardo Minali (ITA) | Astana | 33 |
| 9 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | 30 |
| 10 | Enrico Barbin (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 29 |

### Mountains classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Peter Koning (NED) | Aqua Blue Sport | 35 |
| 2 | Łukasz Owsian (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | 26 |
| 3 | Kanstantsin Sivtsov (BLR) | Bahrain–Merida | 20 |
| 4 | Manuele Boaro (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 15 |
| 5 | Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 15 |
| 6 | Pieter Weening (NED) | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | 15 |
| 7 | Jonathan Cañaveral (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | 12 |
| 8 | Jure Golčer (SLO) | Adria Mobil | 12 |
| 9 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | 10 |
| 10 | Emil Dima (ROU) | MsTina–Focus | 9 |

### Young rider classification

Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Yevgeniy Gidich (KAZ) | Astana | 26h 52' 13" |
| 2 | Rubén Acosta (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 3' 40" |
| 3 | Tadej Pogačar (SLO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 4' 48" |
| 4 | Jonathan Cañaveral (COL) | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 6' 01" |
| 5 | Daniel Savini (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 29' 17" |
| 6 | Vincenzo Albanese (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 39' 45" |
| 7 | Gorazd Per (SLO) | Adria Mobil | + 45' 07" |
| 8 | Raul-Antonio Sinza (ROU) | MsTina–Focus | + 48' 33" |
| 9 | Viktor Potočki (CRO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 58' 11" |
| 10 | Izidor Penko (CRO) | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 58' 40" |

### Teams classification

Result :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Bahrain–Merida | 80h 52' 22" |
| 2 | Bicicletas Strongman–Colombia Coldeportes | + 5' 17" |
| 3 | Astana | + 7' 39" |
| 4 | Adria Mobil | + 16' 54" |
| 5 | Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij | + 20' 01" |
| 6 | Bardiani–CSF | + 20' 18" |
| 7 | Meridiana–Kamen | + 22' 20" |
| 8 | Trek–Segafredo | + 25' 51" |
| 9 | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 37' 44" |
| 10 | Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum | + 43' 29" |