Lipowitz checkmates on Trška Gora, Omrzel third in the overall standings

The final stage of the 2026 Tour of Slovenia ended with a small surprise, but it was not the contenders for the top places who attacked—it was the green jersey itself! Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) broke away on the climb to the top of Trška Gora and crossed the finish line in Novo mesto solo. Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious) delivered another excellent performance to retain third place in the overall standings and secure victory in the young riders’ classification.

The extreme heat made the final day of racing at this year’s Tour of Slovenia even more demanding. The already challenging route from Litija to Novo mesto—with no fewer than five categorized climbs—once again provided exciting racing, and after the chase of the breakaway riders, the race unfolded as expected on the short but steep ascent to Trška Gora. Near the summit, only a small group remained at the front, with Omrzel setting the pace for a time, but it was Lipowitz who delivered the checkmate with a spectacular attack. First at the top and first in the valley, the German then rode alone all the way to the finish on the Main Square, capping off an exceptional week of racing. Two stage victories, along with the green jersey and the Lidl mountain classification jersey, are a fitting reward after a long victory drought. Laurance Pithie added the finishing touch for the German team by winning the points classification. Omrzel crossed the line in 9th place, confirming his spot on the podium and his victory among the young riders. Given the results and the events of the race, it comes as no surprise that Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohealso claimed victory in the team classification.

Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe): “On the end it was quite hard, also super hot. We're racing really good as the team, the guys did a really good job. We went super hard on the last climb, and the first plan was to go with the Laurence. But I also wanted to take the KOM points. I went on the top and opened the gap. I'm super happy to bring it to the finish line and finish the really impressive week for the whole team. I think we can be really proud and super happy to win here for the second time and take the overall.”

Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious): “I’m definitely happy. Our goal was to finish in the top-3 overall, and that’s exactly what we achieved. This year’s Tour of Slovenia was, as usual, a tough race, and the last two days were really a test of ourselves. Time gaps were created in yesterday’s stage, but looking back now, everything is super. Today’s climb to Trška Gora is very steep and short, maybe not the one that suits me best, but we survived it. Florian attacked over the top, while I was at my limit and only thinking about how I was going to make it to the finish. Before the race, I would have signed for third place, and this result confirms my potential. We’ll keep moving forward, step by step, toward the top. First, I’ll try to defend my national champion’s jersey; it’s an honour for me to wear it."

Jan Tratnik (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe): “It doesn't get any better. There was only one stage left, the whole week has been great. Today’s stage had the potential to be very difficult. I expected more attacks, but there wasn’t much interest in getting into the breakaway. We also received some help from other teams, and in the end, attacking is the best way to keep the jersey.”

The 32nd Tour of Slovenia has now come to an end, once again with excellent support of the fans and a beautiful postcard that went out into the world. The riders will now turn their attention to the national championships, meanwhile the “sixth” stage of Tour of Slovenia will almost start. Kids Tour of Slovenia will welcome hundreds of kids to the four-stage event in the first week of July.

RESULTS

Photos: Sportida.com, video: TV Slovenia