Who is this young man who gave a lesson to the creme-de-la-creme of world cycling at Tour de France in 2020? Tadej Pogačar is a wonder boy who at the age of 21 became the second-youngest champion of the most prestigious cycling race in the world. No one expected that he would beat his role model and fellow countryman, Primož Roglič, who is also one of the best cyclists in the world, and win the famous Tour. Pogačar, nicknamed "Pogi star" by the world media, and his UAE team shocked the entire cycling world with an incredible race to win over the cycling throne. He proved that he was not just a one-time winner when he won the 108th famous French loop with great confidence for the second time in a row. In the past few years, this was only achieved by the British cyclist Chris Froome.
He also set a new milestone in global cycling, i.e. on the UCI world cycling rankings, by exceeding the 6000-point limit.
See a selection of Tadej Pogačar’s most prominent achievements at international races and at Tour of Slovenia.
Overall wins at other races
Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič wrote a new chapter in Slovenian and world cycling history with their double victory at Champs-Élysées of the Tour de France in 2020. No other Slovenian has ever achieved this result, except for individual stage wins. No wonder that Slovenians started calling the race Slovenian Tour de France. Other Slovenian cyclists have also been inspired by the success of the exceptional ‘Pogi’ and ‘Rogla’. Luka Mezgec (BikeExchange) was close to winning stages in the 2020 Tour de France, as he came second on two different occasions. He took fourth place in the last stage of the 2021 Tour de France. In the 2021 edition of the Tour, Matej Mohorič excelled with two stage wins, while also winning the Tour’s longest stage. In addition, his team Bahrain Victorious also won in the team classification.
“These landscapes shaped the way I cycle,” he says with an ever-smiling expression on his face. The story of “Pogi star”, as often nicknamed, is a story of remarkable energy, team spirit and astonishing natural beauties found in Slovenia – few countries can compare in terms of natural diversity, which makes Slovenia one of Europe’s most astonishing natural playgrounds. Sports is what unites us here and Slovenian athletes are the greatest ambassadors. This video brings you closer to this remarkable energy, which is felt by Tadej Pogačar while riding along the most impressive and demanding cycling routes in Slovenia, among them also the road to the Vršič mountain pass, which reaches an elevation of 1,611 meters and has 50 numbered hairpin bends like the famous Tour de France climb to Alpe d’Huez. “This is my way of freedom”, he concludes.
Sport is in Slovenians’ blood. It would be difficult to list all the successes that Slovenian athletes have had. We are inspired by our wonderful green environment, so it is not surprising that the majority of Slovenians love outdoor sports activities perceiving them as something obvious. This is how Tadej Pogačar began his sports career. With a ball on the pitch. As a child, he played football in his hometown near Kamnik at the foot of Velika Planina, and he was quite talented. He got into cycling when his older brother started training with the Rog Ljubljana cycling club and a little later he joined the club as "Little Pogi". Already as a boy he was included in the national cycling team, where he continually achieved good results. He was noticed by the UAE team, with whom he signed in July 2018. Since 2019 he has been racing at the highest level of cycling worldwide.
If you think that Tadej Pogačar only shone at the Tour, you are wrong. In 2019, he came as a rookie to the Volta ao Algarve and beat the entire cycling elite. This was followed by the Amgen Tour of California, where he was the youngest winner of this cycling race in the USA. At the La Vuelta, one of the three major cycling races in the world, where Primož Roglič took the victory, Pogačar also stood on the winning stage (third place). Pogačar announced his winning streak in 2020 at the Tour of Valencia, where he was the overall winner. The prestigious Tour de France was the crème de la crème of his journey to the world cycling Olympus.
Tadej Pogačar continued his winning ways in 2021. He won the Italian race from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic Sea and the Belgian race Liege−Bastogne−Liege. He also shone and won the overall race at the Tour of Slovenia. The race in his homeland was only an introduction to his decisive march towards the new victory of Tour 2021. Pogačar spent most stages in yellow and won a fair advantage, ensuring that the Slovenian anthem once again resonated in Paris.
The 2022 season started in a similarly triumphant fashion for Pogačar as the previous year. He defended his victory in the home race Tour of Slovenia. Thus armed with victories, he optimistically went to the prestigious Tour. Once again, he was well on his way to taking his third consecutive overall victory, but he was a bit off on a few key stages and eventually had to hand over the Tour de France crown to Danish Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). He did, however, win the white jersey for the best young cyclist in the race for the third time in a row.
While enjoying the epic achievements of Slovenian cyclists and other top athletes, many of you might ask yourselves, what does this nation of 2 million have so that it can shine on all sport stages? Well, we could discuss this for hours. But we can point out a few reasons for the success of sport in Slovenia.
Tadej is not just passionate about cycling. He also found the love of his life on a bicycle. His girlfriend Urška Žigart is also an outstanding road cyclist. She began her cycling career in the Slovenian club BTC City Ljubljana. In an effort to obtain a World Tour licence, she entered into a partnership with the Italian team Alé Cipollini in 2019 and competed under the joint name Alé BTC Ljubljana. She is currently competing for the Australian Team BikeExchange. In 2020, she won the national time trial championship. It seems that Tadej’s success and her change of team have had a positive effect on the 24-year-old cyclist from Slovenska Bistrica, as she achieved her first notable victory in international races in 2021 winning the last stage of the Tour of Valencia. Urška is also one of the three Slovenian cyclists who competed in the first edition of the Women's Tour (2022).
Slovenia is a true phenomenon in sporting success. Our athletes achieve great things and win medals in numerous sports. In terms of sporting achievements per capita, Slovenia certainly belongs at the very top in the world. This is why it’s not surprising that sport in Slovenia was honoured with its own national holiday.
Meet the places beneath the mighty peaks of the he Kamnik-Savinja Alps, where Tadej Pogačar grew up. Discover the beauty of the Alpine landscape, the Velika Planina pastures, the medieval town of Kamnik and a number of other interesting sights in the area surrounding Pogačar's birthplace Klanec near Komenda.
Unleash it by going on a cycling trip around green Slovenia, across the picturesque landscape, on the asphalt or across the ridges and slopes, through charming towns and villages. There are more than enough possibilities.
Slovenia is a paradise for cyclists. Cycling is one of the most popular activities among Slovenians. The successes of Slovenian cyclists at top cycling races additionally boost the enthusiasm for cycling. The diverse landscape is the perfect venue for all kinds of cycling – road to mountain cycling, family cycling or long-distance challenges. Discover more reasons why it is worth visiting Slovenia by bike.
MoreSlovenia is a paradise for cyclists. Cycling is one of the most popular activities among Slovenians. The successes of Slovenian cyclists at top cycling races additionally boost the enthusiasm for cycling. The diverse landscape is the perfect venue for all kinds of cycling – road to mountain cycling, family cycling or long-distance challenges. Discover more reasons why it is worth visiting Slovenia by bike.
MoreEnjoy the charms of Slovenia’s wine-growing regions by bike. Take a ride among vineyards and wine cellars. Regain your strength by treating yourself to some delicious local cuisine.
MoreIf you like to conquer steep slopes or descend along forest trails, you will find many reasons to be excited in Slovenia. Diverse paths lead to magnificent views and picturesque valleys.
MoreChoose the greenest way to explore Slovenian towns. Many towns have bicycle rental systems in place. You can also join guided bike tours offering a different urban life experience.
MoreJoin one of Slovenia’s many recreational cycling events – from the Franja Marathon cycling "celebration", to the retro experience of conquering the Vršič Pass on a legendary Pony bicycle. Or just cheer for professional cyclists competing in prestigious races.
MoreIn Slovenia, it is difficult to find an excuse that there is nothing to do. Seniors or young people can ride a bike, either a traditional one or an E-bike. You can explore Slovenia on foot – front, back, left, and right. Or you indulge in more adrenaline-pumping adventures.
In need of adrenaline-filled adventures? Choose your favourite!
Hiking in Slovenia rules! Find out why.
Road biking is very common in Slovenia. Numerous trails run on various terrains in a clean natural environment.
Pick an unforgettable cycling experience on some of the most beautiful trails.
Long-distance trails run across mountain peaks, through valleys, all the way to the sea.
Discover green Slovenia in a simple and sustainable way – by e-bike.
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