The inaugural edition of the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina leads the peloton through 390 kilometers and over 4,400 meters of elevation gain, connecting Olympic Sarajevo with the Adriatic pearl of Neum. While the first two stages will be a festival of speed and sprinting power, one segment stands tall above the rest as the "ultimate judge" of the race.
From the Herzegovinian karst to the sea coast, we bring you a preview of the Queen Stage that will define who makes history as the first overall winner of the Tour.
Stage 3: Ljubuški – Neum (The Queen Stage)
Date: 19.04.2026.
Specifications: Mountain stage, Stolac – Neum section
Key Factors: Backcountry climbs, coastal crosswinds, and accumulated fatigue
Why is it critical for the General Classification (GC)?
After two predominantly flat stages designed to showcase the maximum velocity of the professional peloton, Stage 3 is where the "energy-saving" tactics end. All eyes will be on the section from Stolac to Neum. These specific climbs will serve as the testing ground for decisive attacks. We don't just expect a bunch sprint; this will be an "all-out" war between climbers and GC contenders looking to create time gaps and secure the overall victory on points.
Who will control the race?
While the home crowd will follow every pedal stroke of the National Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina with immense excitement—backed by fanatic local support—strategic control of the race is likely to be seized by the major international outfits.
Expect teams like XDS Astana Development Team, Team Novo Nordisk Development and the Polish Voster ATS Team to dictate the tempo. Their experience in races of this caliber will be crucial in neutralizing breakaways through the rugged Herzegovinian terrain and positioning their leaders before the decisive climbs out of Stolac and the technical descent into Neum.
The finish in Neum is more than just the end of a race; it is a symbolic union of the country’s mountainous heart with its coastline. For the first time in history, a professional peloton will race at full speed through the roads connecting Stolac and Bosnia and Herzegovina's only coastal town, writing a new chapter for modern sport in the country.
Bonus: "Sprint Seconds" and Team Tactics
As with the world's greatest Grand Tour races, the devil is in the details. In the case of the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, those details are the "bonus seconds." Since the first two stages (Sarajevo and Mostar) are configurationally ideal for sprinters, organizers predict that the time gaps in the General Classification will be negligible. In such a scenario, every second snatched at the intermediate sprints is worth a minute in the mountains.
Intermediate sprint points in Konjic, Čapljina, Grude, and Stolac will be true battlegrounds for the fast men. These cities are not just pass-through points; they are strategic landmarks where teams will attempt to "steal" precious bonuses. Expect team "lead-out trains" to work at full throttle to launch their leaders into sprints and secure an advantage before the road turns steeply uphill.
However, the real tactical chess match begins after Stolac. This means that at the start of the decisive section, the leading riders will likely be separated by only a few seconds. This creates a perfect "tension" in the peloton: sprinters will fight to survive the mountain sections to protect their bonus-derived leads, while the pure climbers will use every percentage of the incline above Stolac to turn those seconds into dust.
Every attack on the Herzegovinian karst is potentially race-winning for the overall standings. The bonuses from Konjic, Čapljina, Grude, and Stolac could ultimately be the "tipping point" that decides who will raise the winner's trophy in Neum.
Follow the Drama Live!
The Queen Stage holds all the answers. Will the local heroes withstand the pressure of the powerhouse teams, or will international experience claim the day?
Watch the decisive moments live on Arena Sport channels!
