The August 16-19 event was held under the auspices of Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Istria County Prefect Ivan Jakovcic.
Opening today's race, Josipovic said it was an honour and a pleasure to be the tournament's sponsor, adding that "it's clear we are a people who love their homeland, who consider it beautiful, who appreciate it and really want it to be a good home for all our citizens."
Among those in attendance were former President Stjepan Mesic and Agriculture Minister Tomislav Jakovina.
Before the race, Josipovic told reporters the tournament showed continued care in nurturing the heritage as well as a step forward in the development of tourism.
Asked about the possibility of a referendum on the construction of new coal-based bloc within the thermal power plant in Plomin, which will be requested by the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS), he said that "calling a referendum, if it's in line with the law and legal provisions, is a legitimate and democratic right."