The Tour of Slovenia will be energetic and dynamic

The 31st international cycling race Tour of Slovenia will feature five exciting stages that will connect Slovenia from head to toe, five world-class teams and all domestic continental teams, global coverage and, of course, an immense number of beautiful places to cheer on and encourage cyclists. For the first time ever the race will also feature My Tour of Slovenia for recreational cyclists.

Green Slovenia, with its passionate fans and exceptional routes, is an enviable venue for the largest domestic cycling event, part of the UCI ProSeries. Five stages with a total length of 799.2 kilometres and an altitude difference of 12,166 meters will attract a diverse competition of cyclists with different ambitions; while for some teams the race is a preparation for the world's largest Grand Tour, others will be looking for results in Slovenia. Among them will be cyclists from all three domestic continental teams, who will try to use the race for good performances and their presentation to an international audience, following the example of today's superstars.

The race will feature five WorldTour teams, nine teams with ProTeam status and five continental teams.

Tour of Slovenia will once again reach an audience all over the world, of course thanks to the partnership with the Slovenian Tourist Board and live broadcast on Eurosport and related networks, while cycling enthusiasts will also be able to follow the race live on Television Slovenia. One of the messages to all audiences is the now traditional slogan "Fight for Green", which has a double meaning. The cyclists in the race are fighting for the green jersey of the overall winner of the race, while at the same time highlighting the commitment of Slovenia and Slovenian tourism to environmental protection and sustainable development. Organizers and partners will also encourage all fans to cheer responsibly on the stage routes, asking them to stay behind the blue line.

Five exciting stages await the cyclists, which everyone now knows are more difficult than the graphics on the screens show. Before the start, they will be able to refresh themselves in the sea, as Piran will once again host the start of the stage, this time the opening stage of the tour. The stage with the finish in Škofljica will probably be a sprint, but the profile also allows for surprises. This is even more true for the second and third days, with the stages from Velenje to Rogaška Slatina and from Majšperk to Ormož. The fourth stage with the start in Maribor and the finish in Golte will probably be pivotal in the fight for the green jersey, which will once again be decided on Sunday with the stage between Litija and the traditional finish in Novo mesto.

Bogdan Fink, the race director, briefly described the route: "The race will be technically interesting, energetic and dynamic. All cyclists will have the opportunity to show themselves." Uroš Murn, the Slovenian national team coach, also commented on the route: "The cyclists are much more evenly matched than in the past, so the fourth stage may not be decisive. Last year the race was decided on the third stage, this year it could also unfold in the fifth stage."

"The route is great. Cycling fans want more such stages that can influence the general classification, or at least cast doubt on the final result. Such a route is also a challenge for sports directors, who have to study the route well, and if you don't know the route well, you can miss the race composition," added Andrej Hauptman, sports director of the UAE Team Emirates XRG.

Stages of the 31st Tour of Slovenia:
Stage 1, 4^th June: Piran – Škofljica (168.7 km)
Stage 2, 5^th June: Velenje – Rogaška Slatina (157.8 km)
Stage 3, 6^th June: Majšperk – Ormož (173.4 km)
Stage 4, 7^th June: Maribor – Golte (175.2 km)
Stage 5, 8^th June: Litija – Novo mesto (124.1 km)

The race will traditionally be accompanied by a "race" for the BEST host, where the competition between destinations is always as great as among cyclists. For the first time, the race is also open to recreational cyclists, the My Tour of Slovenia stage will take place along part of the fourth stage route, and all participants will face the same final climb. A month later, the Kids Tour of Slovenia will be on the agenda, which last year attracted over 350 young cyclists from sixteen countries, and interest in this race is even greater this year.

Statements from guests at the press conference:

Boštjan Škufca Zaveršek, Vice President of the Management Board of Telekom Slovenija: "Before the race actually starts, we are hosting all the teams and journalists in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, which are part of the Telekom Slovenia family. After that we’ll organize a blue line and initiative Navijajmo pametno (Let's Cheer Smartly) on each of the stages. With it we want to draw attention to something that we lack not only in Slovenia, but also in the world. With our initiative we want to bring the aspect of awareness of how we cheer into sports. Last year, we first tested the blue line in cycling, and I believe that all spectators will respect it. In this way, we are also spreading awareness that athletes compete, and spectators should cheer."

MSc. Maja Pak Olaj, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board: "Cycling very effectively presents Slovenia as an attractive destination for active holidays, as a country of top athletes and an excellent host of major international sporting events. That is why the Slovenian Tourist Board has been supporting the Tour of Slovenia for eighth years by ensuring its live broadcast on Eurosport. Through broadcast, advertising and other communication activities, we will once again bring the image of Slovenia to millions of viewers around the world, in close cooperation with the destinations. Eurosport's content reaches sports enthusiasts in more than 130 countries through various platforms, which gives our story global power and exceptional communication reach."

Jožko Tomšič, CEO of the Emil Frey Group: "I am pleased to be able to address you today on behalf of the Emil Frey Group, which represents 12 excellent car brands and 3 commercial vehicle brands in Slovenia. Our commitment to mobility and innovation goes beyond the automotive industry alone - it is also reflected in our support for sports, progress, and the development of society.

Over the years, the Tour of Slovenia has grown beyond the scope of a sporting event and has become a symbol of perseverance, dedication and exceeding the limits of what is possible. As a long-standing partner, we are proud to ensure its smooth running with our vehicles and provide cyclists with safe and reliable support on the way to their destination. Mobility has long been more than just moving from point A to point B - it is the engine of progress. These values are woven into our business and are also reflected in the spirit of this race. Therefore, our cooperation goes beyond just a sports partnership - it expresses our broader social responsibility and commitment to sustainable development.

Cycling is not just a sport, it is a way of life. It strengthens discipline, perseverance, and team spirit - values that are key in both sports and the business world. We believe that it stimulates development and opens new opportunities, especially among young people, and directs them towards an active and healthy lifestyle. That is why we are proud that we can contribute to the growth and success of this exceptional event with our work and partnership.”

Marko Lekše, President of the Race Organizing Committee and President of the Adria Mobil Cycling Club: “I am pleased that the Race Through Slovenia has developed into an exceptional cycling and sports event over the past thirty years, and has now long been one of the largest sports events in Slovenia. Thanks for this go to all the competitors, Bogdan Fink with his tireless support, the entire Organizing Committee and all the volunteers who make the race possible as we know it. Special thanks go to the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, which recognizes the importance of the race, the Slovenian Tourist Board and, for the first time, the SPIRIT Slovenia agency. Thanks to our traditional sponsor Telekom Slovenije, the main sponsor of the race, Adria Mobil from Novo Mesto and all the other sponsors. Without all of you, the race would not be at such a high level.

It is very important that in the Adria Mobil Cycling Club we take care of the development of competitive sport and social responsibility, which is also the goal of our company Adria Mobil, which supports the club, events and organizational work. The Kids Tour of Slovenia for the youngest categories means a lot to us; we hope that we can raise the next generations of Rogličs and Pogačars in our clubs. We have good coaches and competitors, we need to move forward and ensure that the development of cycling is not only a unique story, but also a lasting story. Special thanks go to the Slovenian police, who are partners in the race in the field of safety. We are proud that we do not have major safety challenges and can look forward to sporting achievements. This year's race will have many interesting stages and many chances to win, perhaps it will be decided at the traditional finish in Novo mesto. Thank you all for your support, we are already looking forward to the new race!”

Photo: Sportida