Interview with the First Winner of Vršič

The very first edition of the Tour of Slovenia already took riders over Vršič Pass, and just like this year, the stage finish was in Kranjska Gora 1993. The race has crossed Vršič a total of 13 times, and only Jure Golčer managed to celebrate victory at the summit twice (in 2002 and 2003). However, there can be only one first winner, and that was of course Srečko Glivar, who remains actively involved in cycling to this day.

Among the winners on Vršič is also star rider Vincenzo Nibali, while a number of outstanding Slovenian cyclists have conquered the climb as well. After Srečko Glivar, the ascent was won by Robert Pintarič (1995), Jure Golčer (2002, 2003), and Tomaž Nose (2006). Croatian rider Radoslav Rogina won in 2013, the last time the race tackled this legendary climb. It should also be noted that the stage finish was not always located at the summit of the pass, and the same will be true for this year's fourth stage.

You were the first winner on Vršič in the Tour of Slovenia, back in 1993 during the sixth stage of the race. Although you finished third on the stage that ended in Kranjska Gora, the feeling of reaching the summit first must have been special. Tell us how it unfolded and what it was like when you reached the top of the pass.

Srečko Glivar: This may sound immodest, but I already knew at the start of the stage that I would be the first rider over the summit. Just over a week before the race, I had returned from the then-prestigious Giro della Regione, where I competed on equal terms with Italians and other excellent riders who later became champions. The level of competition in the early editions of the race was significantly lower than it is today, and I arrived at the start bursting with confidence.

How many times had you ridden Vršič before that race, and how many times afterward? You're not exactly a local rider, but it was probably always an excellent training climb. Has your view of the pass changed over the years?

Srečko Glivar: I practically never trained on Vršič. In 1987, we were at a training camp for the World Championships in Villach, and that was the only time I rode it a few times. I did race over Vršič during the Tour of Yugoslavia—I think we crossed it twice.

Every race that has included Vršič has been something special. It's a prestigious climb that remains more memorable to fans than the stage winner. Who won the stage in Kranjska Gora in 1993? 😊

Let's jump more than thirty years ahead to this year's Tour of Slovenia. What kind of climb is Vršič for professional cyclists today? How big of a challenge will it be, and how will they experience it?

Srečko Glivar: It will probably be the decisive half hour of the race. Even though bicycles are now much faster and lighter, Vršič is still a demanding climb. It would be very interesting if someone had measured the times back in 1993 so we could make a comparison.

Where does Vršič stand today on the list of challenges for recreational cyclists? The Tour of Slovenia has featured many attractive climbs that draw cyclists, but is Vršič still something special?

Srečko Glivar: Absolutely. Slovenia has many beautiful climbs, some even harder than Vršič, but Vršič is something special. I can say that it is an iconic climb where, throughout history, professional cyclists, amateurs, and recreational riders alike have all been tested to their limits.

Do you have any other special story connected to Vršič?

Srečko Glivar: In 1980, I took part in a recreational ride up Vršič. Local recreational cyclists organized a bus trip and invited a few kids from my village to join them. We packed our bikes into the luggage compartment of the bus and headed to the other side of Slovenia. For us kids, it was a special experience because we had never been to that part of the country, let alone cycled there. When we arrived in Kranjska Gora, we immediately assembled our bikes and went exploring to see what awaited us. Our little scouting trip took too long, and by the time we returned to the meeting point, the bus—with all our equipment—was gone. So I started the ride "in civilian clothes," wearing nothing but jeans. Imagine a 13-year-old who had only ridden around his home village up to that point, now climbing a mighty mountain in sneakers on a 20-kilogram Favorit bicycle. It was hard—and then even harder. When I could no longer ride, I walked for a while. The important thing is that I made it to the top. Back then, I couldn't have imagined even in my wildest dreams that this sport would go on to shape my entire life.

Winners of Vršič (1,611 m)
1993 Srečko Glivar (Krka Novo mesto)
1994 Tobias Steinhauser (Histor)
1995 Robert Pintarič (Rog Ljubljana)
1996 Lorenzo Di Silvestro (Cantina Tollo)
1998 Maurizio De Pasquale (Amore & Vita)
1999 Tim Jones (Amore & Vita)
2001 Faat Zakirov (Amore&Vita-Beretta)
2002 Jure Golčer (Perutnina Ptuj Krka Telekom)
2003 Jure Golčer (Volksbank)
2005 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Miche)
2006 Tomaž Nose (Adria Mobil Novo mesto)
2007 Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)
2013 Radoslav Rogina (Adria Mobil Novo mesto)

Photos: (Vršič) Dražen Štader / Slovenia.info, (Srečko in 1993) Archive of KK Novo mesto, (Srečko on Tour of Slovenia) Sportida.com