Rajovic times sprint to perfection for Slovenia stage win

Dusan Rajovic (Solution Tech-NIPPO-Rali) timed his sprint to perfection to win Stage 2 of the Tour of Slovenia 2026, powering past his rivals in the final hundred metres. The Serbian champion came from deep in the bunch to overhaul a fading Ben Oliver (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling), whose long-range attack almost stole the show.

Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) was forced to settle for second place, with Nikiforos Arvanitou (Team United Shipping) taking third in the bunch gallop. Despite missing out on the stage victory, Pithie's runner-up finish ensures he retains the overall leader's jersey heading into stage 3.

The flat route to Ormož was always destined to end in a bunch sprint, and the final 10 km saw the sprinters' teams massing at the front. Team Polti VisitMalta and Bahrain Victorious were prominent, but it was Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe who took decisive control for their sprinter and race leader, Laurence Pithie.

Inside the final 3 km, the pace was ferocious. After some nervy moments and jostling on a sweeping bend, Mattia Cattaneo put in a huge turn for Red Bull, stringing the peloton out. He handed over to Jan Tratnik under the flamme rouge, who continued to drive an infernal pace.

The textbook lead-out was disrupted when Ben Oliver launched an audacious long-range sprint on the final right-hand bend, immediately opening a gap. Pithie was forced to respond, but as Oliver's effort faded in the final 100 metres, it was Dusan Rajovic who surged through the middle with the most power to take a convincing victory.

• Dusan Rajovic’s victory is a significant one for the Serbian national champion and his Solution Tech-NIPPO-Rali squad, upsetting the WorldTour might of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
• Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe executed a powerful lead-out, but their work was undone by Ben Oliver's surprise attack. Pithie was forced into a long chase, highlighting how even the best-laid plans can be disrupted.
• Ben Oliver ultimately finished seventh, but his all-or-nothing attack made the finale. It was a brave bid for glory that animated the final kilometre and very nearly paid off.
• The bunch sprint meant no changes among the general classification contenders. Pithie keeps his lead, but the key mountain stages are yet to come.