A unique start from the ferry, a brutal opening climb straight out of the port of Merag, and nonstop intense racing across the island of Cres make Stage 3 an exciting day of racing. The island transition at the 4Islands Epic 2026 delivers one of the race’s most iconic stages. From Krk to Cres, the early morning ferry rides from Baška to Merag, where the race begins spectacularly immediately after docking. No warm-up, no slow start—the attack begins full force right from the start. With 83 kilometers and 1,900 meters of elevation gain, Stage 3 is anything but a transition day.

The men’s race explodes immediately on the steep opening climb out of Merag; the teams have to push to the limit from the very first minutes. The Orbea Speed Company Racing Team once again sets the tone early, dictates the pace, and takes charge. Trailing in the overall standings, they have no other choice, and they execute this strategy consistently. Right behind them, the Buff-BH Team remains calm and in control. With a comfortable lead in the general classification, they pace themselves wisely and avoid unnecessary risks. The Singer KTM Racing Team rides in the leading group for a long time but is set back by a mechanical issue, allowing the chasers to close the gap again.

The race is decided on the final climb. Buff-BH attacks late and picks the perfect moment. They pull away from Speed Company and secure the stage victory in 3:19:45. Orbea Speed Company finishes second and remains in contention for the overall classification, while the Singer KTM Racing Team fights back strongly to take third place.

In the women’s race, Katarzyna Sosna and Giorgia Marchet celebrate their third victory in three races for the Torpado Kenda FSA Team. Once again, they ride in a controlled and consistent manner, pacing themselves wisely, and clinch the stage in a sprint finish after a much closer race. For the first time, they face serious competition at the front. Anna Weinbeer and Tanja Priller of Team KTM Sparta powered by Brenta Brakes ride aggressively, stay in contention throughout the entire stage, and secure a well-deserved second place. Despite technical issues, Maria Zanantonello and Chrystelle Baumann (Metallurgica Veneta Pro – Next Ride) fought their way back several times to finish third. This allowed them to limit their time loss and continue defending second place in the overall standings.

Results