Fight For Green Will Begin in the Most Beautiful Square in Slovenia

The peloton of the 31st Tour of Slovenia will set off tomorrow at 11:45 AM from Tartini Square in Piran, and just a few minutes later, the Fight For Green will begin for 132 cyclists from 32 countries! With five stages and a total distance of over 800 kilometers, the race promises intense competition. Thousands of fans will further contribute to the electric atmosphere. At today’s press conference, held in the stunning setting of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park—appropriately on World Bicycle Day—final details about the race were revealed.

19 teams, including four WorldTour teams, have arrived in Slovenia and are completing final preparations for tomorrow’s start in Piran. The race will kick off with a neutralized section from Tartini Square, and the finish of the first stage is expected around 4:00 PM in Škofljica. The remaining stages will follow these routes: Velenje – Rogaška Slatina, Majšperk – Ormož, Maribor – Golte and Litija – Novo mesto.

Around 3,500 individuals are involved in the race, most of them as course marshals, highlighting the scale of this sport-tourism event, which connects 50 official destinations and spans over 800 kilometers of Slovenian roads.

The only piece missing in the preparations was the official rider list. Today, the final start list was published, featuring notable names such as Dylan Groenewegen, Luka Mezgec (both Jayco-AlUla), Žak Eržen, Phil Bauhaus (both Bahrain Victorious), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek) and Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates – XRG). Local fans will also be excited to see Jakob Omrzel, who appeared at the press conference. Jakob stated: “This is my first year racing in the elite category. I know I still have a lot to learn. Our team captain hasn’t been decided yet, but I’m happy that Žak Eržen, a childhood friend of mine, will be on the team. Racing on home roads with a good friend—that’s something special. I have goals for the race and definitely aim for strong results.”

Luka Mezgec, known among riders as “the professor,” is also expected to play a major role. He spoke about a new tactical approach by Team Jayco-AlUla: “I always enjoy racing the Tour of Slovenia. This year’s route is similar to last year’s, and we’ll be looking for opportunities in several stages, maybe not always in a big group of riders. We’ll test a new tactic—this time I’ll hold back a bit while Max Walscheid will be main leadout for Dylan. That’s the plan for stage one; we’ll adjust as the race progresses.”

The Tour of Slovenia is not just a major sporting event, but also a powerful global promotional opportunity for Slovenia. Live broadcast on Eurosport plays a crucial role in this, as emphasized by Maja Pak Olaj, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board: “The Tour of Slovenia is much more than a cycling race—it’s a story about Slovenia as a country of top athletes, inspiring destinations, and passionate fans. Cycling effectively promotes our country as a green and active destination that connects communities, sport, and tourism. This is why we’ve been supporting the race for eight years now, ensuring Slovenia’s image reaches millions of viewers through Eurosport’s live coverage, advertising, and promotional content. Eurosport’s content spans 130+ countries, giving our story global reach and incredible visibility. Key contributors are also the destinations and fans, whose energy and passion make this event unforgettable and amplify its message beyond borders.”

This year’s race introduces a global innovation in fan participation, in collaboration with Telekom Slovenija, a long-time supporter of the race. The goal: promote smart and safe cheering.

In four stages, “blue lines” will mark the boundary of safe cheering zones. Professional mimes will help guide fan behavior using expressive gestures that represent an invisible barrier between fans and the race. A simple finger snap will signal spectators not to cross the cheering boundary. Their mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire fans along the route in a fun and unforgettable way—ushering in a smarter and safer way to cheer.

Of course, safety remains the top priority for the organizers. All spectators are urged to act responsibly, follow police and marshal instructions, and practice patience, especially in sensitive areas.

Fight For Green begins!

Start list (link)

Photo credits: Sportida