Kiwi tyro Finn Fisher-Black grabbed his first stage race win of his young professional career in Croatia.

Fisher-Black came from behind on the final stage of the Istrian Sprint Trophy, sneaking ahead with bonus time at the intermediate sprint to edge ahead of Filippo Zana (Bardiani-CSF).

“We really did it as a team. It was actually a perfect day. The team kept me in the right position throughout the stage."

“It was getting exciting, because a leading group seemed to make it to the finish. Fortunately, we managed to get them back. It is my first overall victory in a stage race. Especially the way we have done it is very special.”

Jumbo-Visma sports director Robert Wagner was pleased with the way his team raced.

“We planned to go full for the bonus seconds and that plan worked out. Finn finished it off very nicely there." 

“After that sprint it was a very tough race with a lot of wind and rain. They did a really great job. We started the race well and ended it well. The men were one of the youngest riders here, but they rode like cannons and that is great to see.”

Fisher-Black finished in the peloton on the first stage of 168km from Funtana to Porec, and was third on stage two from Vizinada to Motovun over 165km, which left the kiwi one second behind Zana.

The kiwi grabbed the intermediate sprint and went on to finish in the peloton in the final stage from Pelo Marcana to Umag over 143km to win the overall honours by two seconds.