As part of its 19th stage, the Giro d'Italia again took a turn into Slovenian territory. Find out where the "Slovenian" stage of the prestigious Giro d'Italia took place.
The prestigious Giro d'Italia returned to Slovenia again in 2022. The 19th stage of one of the biggest three-week cycling events took the cyclists through part of the Soča Valley with a challenging climb to Kolovrat. This was one of the excellent opportunities for Slovenia, where cycling is one of the most popular activities, to show the world its cycling soul, green countryside and excellent options for outdoor activities.
Cycling enthusiasts know that there are only three great challenges among all the world’s cycling races – France's Tour de France, Spain's Vuelta and Italy's Giro d'Italia. An overall win in one of these prestigious races shoots professional cyclists straight to the cycling Olympus. Slovenians have already learned how it feels to have their heroes among the winners of one of the three-week races, a distinction for which we can thank Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič.
When Slovenia is mentioned to anyone who is interested in cycling, Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar are probably the first names that come to their minds. Although they have shone in numerous international races, what made history was the epic battle fought by the Slovenian champions in the 2020 Tour de France. Get better acquainted with the Slovenian cycling heroes who are also ambassadors for Slovenian tourism.
Discover the cycling routes of Slovenia, the homeland of Primož Roglič, a top cyclist who became the Olympic champion at the Tokyo Olympics.
Meet Tadej Pogačar, a young Slovenian cyclists, who has won Tour de France two times in a row.
Slovenian cyclists have won several stages of the Giro so far. First to enter his name among the winners of the individual stages of the Giro was Luka Mezgec in 2014, to be followed by Jan Polanc, Primož Roglič, Matej Mohorič and Jan Tratnik. The highlight of all Slovenian Giro appearances to date was Primož Roglič in 2023, who became the first Slovenian to wear the pink overall winner's jersey.
The Giro is especially close to the heart of Slovenians because it takes an occasional turn into Slovenian territory. The last time was in 2022, when one of the stages crossed the Italian-Slovenian border via Učja. The cyclists rode through villages along the Soča River to Kobarid and from there to Idrsko. They climbed through Livek and Livške Ravne to Kolovrat and then back to Italy via the Solarji saddle, where the final climb to the famous pilgrimage centre of Stara Gora above Chedad awaited them. The cyclists climbed a total of 3,230 vertical metres on the 178 km long, Slovenian-themed stage.
The Giro d'Italia (also known as the Giro or La Corsa Rosa) is an annual stage race for professional male cyclists that takes place mostly on Italian roads. Occasionally, it crosses the borders of neighbouring countries, and in its more than 100-year history, it has also entered Slovenia six times.
The Giro d'Italia was held for the first time in 1909, making it one of the oldest cycling races in the world. The first winner was Luigi Ganna.
Since 1931, cyclists have been competing for the pink jersey awarded to the overall winner. Pink is the colour of the organiser of the race, the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, which is still printed on pink paper.
The 2021 Giro d'Italia was broadcast in as many as 185 countries. Television stations generated a total of 95 hours of live coverage of the race.
Before 2022, the pink caravan visited Slovenia five times. The starting or finishing points of the "Slovenian" stage have included Kranj, Bled, Portorož and Ljubljana, and the route of the Giro has also ventured twice into the Brda region in the past.
The Soča Valley is a world of active outdoor experiences, a valley of memories of the turbulent events of the First World War and a place of top gastronomic experiences.
It doesn’t matter what kind of cyclist you are or what kind of bicycle you ride - you will find something to your liking in Slovenia. The diverse and picturesque landscape will take your mind off all the effort, and time and kilometres will fly by just like that. In Slovenia, you can ride a bicycle practically every day in the year; the main cycling season is between April and November, and in places with a temperate Mediterranean climate it can last into the winter.
In the Giro d'Italia cycling race, a lot of attention is also dedicated to sustainability. Under the slogan "ride green" the organisers ensure that the race is not only attractive to sport enthusiasts, but they also strive to make it a role model for sustainable activity and environmental protection. Sustainability guidelines are also of key importance in Slovenia, the first country in the world to be declared a green destination as a whole.
Watch the interactive video and get to know some of the most interesting facts and green stories that reveal the sustainable path of Slovenia.
Play interactive videoWatch the interactive video and get to know some of the most interesting facts and green stories that reveal the sustainable path of Slovenia.
MoreSlovenia is a pioneer in the field of strategic sustainable tourism development on a national level. Over 280 Slovenian destinations and tourism service providers have successfully obtained the Slovenia Green label, which reflects their sustainable approach and responsible behaviour towards the environment. Discover your favourite green corners and experiences and join us in creating a better future.
MoreSlovenia was the first country to be declared a Global Green Destination. Its green journey continues through numerous sustainability-oriented projects and practices with which it justifies its title of a green country.
MoreSlovenia will be the European Region of Gastronomy for 2021. The main attributes of Slovenian cuisine are local ingredients used in both traditional dishes and masterpieces from top chefs. Discover chefs with prestigious achievements in sustainability and see for yourselves the inspiring reasons for the positive development of Slovenia's profile as a country of sustainable culinary excellence.
MoreWe pride ourselves on our unspoilt nature and rich cultural heritage, which we actively protect for the generations to come. We encourage you to help us in achieving this. Follow the green guidelines for ensuring sustainable behaviour before, during, and after your visit to Slovenia, so as to have a positive impact on the natural environment and local communities.
MoreHave you ever wondered why such a small country like Slovenia has so many top-level athletes in so many sports? There are many ingredients of the successful sport story of Slovenia. Of course, as in all other things, perseverance, courage and heart count for a lot. And these ingredients are certainly not lacking in the greatest Slovenian sporting names.
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The publication describes tours for various biking types; here, you can find information on accommodation for bikers, trail difficulty, natural and cultural attractions along the way, and suggestions for biking holidays.
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