Longer, tougher, and far more tactical than the opening stage, Stage 2 pushes the riders to their limits. The 4Islands Epic 2026 really steps it up on Stage 2, delivering a true queen stage around Baška. The riders ride in the opposite direction of Stage 1, but a gentle warm-up is out of the question. After a fast start on open terrain, the race heats up on the long road climb to the Moon Plateau. After that, rocky crossings, flowy trails, a technical coastal descent, and two tough final climbs make for one of the most demanding days of the race.

The men’s race starts aggressively right from the start, and the Orbea Speed Company Racing Team makes it clear early on that they intend to attack. After Stage 1, Georg Egger and Lukas Baum have nothing to lose. They break away early, pick up the pace on the first climbs, and embark on a long solo effort. Even a mechanical mid-race doesn’t disrupt their rhythm. No sooner back in the race than they take full risks again and ride most of the stage alone at the front. Behind them, the chase is in full swing. Buff-BH Team, Klimatiza Orbea Team, and Singer KTM Racing Team work together to limit the gap. In a dramatic finale, the gap shrinks to just a few seconds, but Orbea Speed Company secures the victory, crossing the finish line in 3:15:22.4.
Klimatiza Orbea Team finishes second (+24.0), closely followed by Buff-BH in third place (+24.9) – the overall standings remain tight.

In the women’s race, Katarzyna Sosna and Giorgia Marchet once again put on a dominant performance for the Torpado Kenda FSA Team. Perfectly in sync, they control the race from the front, share the lead work, and maintain a consistently high pace. Their lead grows steadily throughout the day, and they cross the finish line in 4:06:08.4 with a clear margin, further extending their lead in the overall standings. Behind them, Maria Zanantonello and Chrystelle Baumann (Metallurgica Veneta Pro – Next Ride) once again ride strongly and consistently to take second place (+9:42.7) and solidify their position in the overall standings. Terese Andersson and Hildegunn Gjertrud Hovdenak of Team Molde CK / Lindgren Racing also put in an outstanding performance, securing third place with a commanding ride (+10:47.0).

Results