Petra Zsankö and Matthew Brennan Triumph at Poreč Trophies 2024

Poreč witnessed the exhilarating spectacle of the Istrian Spring Trophies 2024 with two thrilling races held yesterday. The Poreč Trophy LADIES, now in its second edition, kicked off in front of the Parentium Hotel, Plava Laguna at 9 a.m. The race lasted nearly three hours, with 64 cyclists from 12 teams tackling the challenging 107.9-kilometer course.

The competition proved intense, as cyclists quickly split into two main groups. The leading pack solidified their advantage towards the end, with Petra Zsankö of the RC ARBÖ Rapso Knittelfeld team crossing the finish line in Tar first, clocking in at 02:56:02. Elisabeth Ebras from the UAE Development Team secured second place, closely followed by Urška Pintar from BTC City Ljubljana Zhiraf Ambedo. Reflecting on the race, Zsankö shared, “Today’s race was exceptionally demanding. Our strategy to maintain a constant lead and attempt breakaways clearly paid off. The team executed an outstanding performance!”

The men’s race commenced at 1:30 p.m. amidst rain showers, featuring 170 cyclists from 29 teams. The 146.3-kilometer course witnessed several breakaways. Matthew Brennan from Team Visma – Lease a Bike emerged victorious in the Poreč Trophy, finishing with a time of 3:11:20. Lorenzo Conforti of VG Group Bardiani CSF Faizane claimed second place, with Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team securing third. Brennan expressed his elation, stating, “It’s an incredible feeling. Securing a double win holds special significance for me; I had modest expectations, so I’m extremely pleased with these results. We executed our plan successfully, capitalizing on several favorable situations during the race.”

The races concluded in Tar, where the winners were honored. The Tar-Vabriga Tourist Board expressed satisfaction with the traditional hosting of the Poreč Trophy, particularly highlighting the continuous growth in interest for the women’s race.

The most anticipated event, the “Istrian Spring,” is a four-day race for male cyclists scheduled from Thursday, March 7th, to Sunday, March 10th. Expectations are high for dynamic competition on challenging terrain, captivating spectators with its suspense until the very end.