Giro d’Italia returns with a Slovenian touch
The prestigious Giro d’Italia, now in its 108th edition, will bring cycling fever back to Slovenia on 24 May 2025. Specifically, it will pass through Goriška Brda, Nova Gorica and Gorizia – the European Capital of Culture 2025. For Slovenia, where cycling is one of the most popular activities, this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase its cycling spirit, green landscapes and outstanding outdoor experiences.
📆 Save Saturday, 24 May – or the whole weekend – for Slovenian cycling and a unique experience through Goriška Brda, Nova Gorica and the Vipava Valley.
The Giro places Slovenia among the "Big Three"
Cycling fans know there are only three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, La Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia. A win in any of these prestigious races propels a professional rider into the sport’s elite. Slovenians already know the joy of seeing their heroes – Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič – take overall victories in these grand three-week races.
Giro d'Italia in brief
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.
This year’s Giro features 21 stages, covering 3,413.3 kilometres and 52,500 metres of elevation gain. For comparison, that's like cycling from Goričko to Piran nearly ten times – or climbing Mount Triglav more than 18 times! Take a look at a few interesting facts about the race.
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.
Broadcast across five continents and in 198 countries, it reaches an annual audience of 694 million viewers.
Before 2025, the pink caravan visited Slovenia six times.
The Giro to paint the European Capital of Culture 2025 pink
This will be the seventh time the Giro visits Slovenia. It’s no coincidence that the Italian Grand Tour winds through Slovenia’s picturesque wine-growing hills, challenging mountain passes and expansive alpine valleys. Slovenian stages have often been decisive in the battle for the pink jersey – or at least caused major shake-ups at the top of the leaderboard.
Nova Gorica and Gorizia– the 2025 European Capital of Culture – together with Goriška Brda, will come alive with cheering fans along the route of Stage 14 on Saturday, 24 May. The stage will start in Treviso, Italy, cross the border between Slovenia and Italy at Cormons, and follow a scenic and dynamic route through Goriška Brda: from Plešivo, Medana, Dobrovo and Šmartno to Hum and Števerjan, before heading into Gorizia, Italy. Cyclists will then re-enter Slovenia via the Rožna Dolina border crossing, arriving in Nova Gorica, and finish the stage with two city laps culminating at Trg Evrope. Discover the destinations of the “Slovenian” stage.
More detailed information about the “Slovenian” route on the Giro d'Italia website
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First Slovenian Giro winner back for more
Primož Roglič became the first Slovenian to win the Giro in 2023, conquering a dramatic mountain stage at Monte Lussari before lifting the Trophy of Infinity in Rome the next day, cheered on by thousands of fans from Slovenia and other countries.
The very next year, Tadej Pogačar – widely regarded as the world’s best cyclist – delivered a phenomenal performance over three weeks to become the second Slovenian winner of the Giro in 2024.
Two exceptional cyclists. Two inspiring ambassadors of Slovenian tourism: Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar.
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Will a Slovenian win the Giro for a third consecutive year?
In Nova Gorica and Gorizia – the European Capital of Culture – fans are excited to welcome three Slovenian riders competing in this year’s Giro. Alongside Primož Roglič will be Jan Tratnik, both riding for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, and Matevž Govekar for Bahrain Victorious.
Cycling experts and commentators are once again placing Roglič among the top favourites. With five overall Grand Tour wins, ten victories in major week-long races, and an Olympic gold medal, he remains in incredible form heading into 2025. Fans are already counting down the days to the pink cycling spectacle – and especially to Stage 14 on 24 May, when the world’s cycling elite will ride once again on Slovenian roads.
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