Alban Lakata ends team career with second Istria300 win
Poreč, October 3, 2026 Istria300 was held on October 3 in summer-like temperatures and sunshine on roads closed to traffic throughout Istria – across three distances: the Istria300 (302 km, 5,300 m of elevation gain), the Istria209 (209 km, 3,300 m of elevation gain), and the Istria135 (134.5 km, 1,800 m of elevation gain). The start took place at exactly 7:00 a.m. at sunrise, directly on the Adriatic Sea; the start line was set up at the historic city wall of Poreč. The event had been sold out since May with 4,595 participants.
Istria300 result
In the men’s category, Alban Lakata (AUT) won in 8:29:49 h, ahead of Miguel Brugger (AUT, +0:26) and Paul Verbnjak (AUT, +1:03). Lakata won the Istria300 for the second time, after 2024.
In the women’s category, defending champion Valerie Rupitsch had to abandon after a flat tire. Annalisa Prato (ITA) won in 9:18:29 h, ahead of Tina Klinar (SLO, +49:33) and Odette Bertolin (ITA, +50:48). Rupitsch remains the only person to have won all three Istria300 distances: the Istria209 in 2023, the Istria135 in 2024, and the Istria300 in 2025.
“I’m extremely surprised that it went so well. I wasn’t quite at my best today, but I showed real fighting spirit. It was my last race for my team, which I rode for for eight years – so I thought: this is how you end a season in style, with a win. Riding at the front with this weather and this field was a real source of satisfaction for me. Keeping up with the young guys at 47 is a special feeling,” said Alban Lakata.
“Everything was ideal for me this year, from the first to the last kilometer. The turning point of the race came on the final climb, when I realized that my competitor was starting to struggle, which motivated me to push even harder. Last year I finished second, but I started at the back, which influenced my strategy this year to start among the first riders. I’m very happy, and the first thing I need to do now is get some good rest,” said Annalisa Prato.
Istria209 and Istria135 results
On the Istria209, Federico Gnoato (ITA) won the men’s race in 5:49:30 h, and Carina Ziegler (AUT) won the women’s race in 6:22:27 h. Ziegler had already won the Istria209 at its debut in 2021.
On the Istria135, Fran Bošnjak (CRO) won the men’s race in 3:33:15 h, and Tatjana Winkler (AUT) won the women’s race in 3:46:27 h.
Participant numbers
More than 4,500 participants from over 40 countries took to the start, including 2,561 from Austria, 510 from Germany, and 18 from Switzerland (67.2% DACH share). The last finisher crossed the line at 7:00 p.m. at sunset.
Supporting program around Bike Center Poreč
The day after the event, the Bike Center Poreč hosts a recovery ride at 10:00 a.m. The guided road cycling tours from the Bike Center Poreč continue daily through October 9, free of charge for all Istria300 participants. The Istria300 Ambassadors Martin Koch, Alban Lakata, Daniel Federspiel, Christoph Sumann, Klemen Bauer, Manfred Mölgg, Nici Schmidhofer, Marcela Joglová, Paul Verbnjak, and Andreas Meklau were part of the event week’s supporting program, including the social ride and the on-stage introduction on October 2.
Registration for 2027
The date for the seventh edition of Istria300 is already set: October 2, 2027. Pre-registration opens next week; everyone who pre-registers secures a best-price guarantee as well as a start-spot guarantee for 2027, and will receive an email as soon as registration opens.
Staying as a cyclist with Valamar
Istria300 participants staying at select Valamar hotels in Poreč benefit from discounted rates with a promo code, an early-bird breakfast 2.5 hours before the start, and secure bike storage in the room. Booking with the promo code ISTRIA300 will be available soon.
