800 Kilometers Long #FightForGreen Is Starting

Nova Gorica, Slovenia, 14^th June 2022 – 28^th international race Tour of Slovenia will start tomorrow in Nova Gorica, again with some of the best road cyclists in the world, including world’s number one Tadej Pogačar, and 6^th from the UCI rankings, Matej Mohorič. There are 21 teams with 144 cyclists on the race, and they will make Fight For Green very interesting for sure.

“This is one of the most beautiful races in the world,” is a quote that audience on the today’s press conferences awarded with big cheer, especially since these words came from Tadej Pogačar. He’s of course the first name of the 5-day long race that will connect bigger part of Slovenia (and very small part of Italy) and give something for every type of cyclist. First two stages, Nova Gorica – Postojna and Ptuj – Rogaška Slatina, are likely going to finish with a sprint. Third stage from Laško to Celje is very hilly with a short finish climb, so it will suit climbers more; this is also where Pogačar took the lead on the 2021 race. Saturday is a day for climbers, with stage start in Laško and finish on Velika planina. This is where the overall winners will be decided. Last stage from Vrhnika to Novo mesto will be very interesting, with short and hard climb to Trška gora just before the finish. This is the stage that Matej Mohoričhas in his sight.
Battles for the jerseys and stage victories will be intense for sure, as there are many other excellent cyclists on the race as well: Pascal Ackermann, Rafal Majka, Dylan Groenewegen, Matteo Sobrero, Tim Merlier just to name a few. You always must consider the local stars like Luka Mezgec, Domen Novak, Jan Tratnik & Jan Polanc, they all won stages on much bigger races in the past. In total there are four WorldTour teams on the race, but ProTeams and continental teams will also try to get their share of glory, best young cyclists of 2021 was for example Kristijan Hočevar.
Tadej Pogačar is of course the rider that gets most attention, he also has a very strong team with him. UAE Team Emirates is aiming to defend the victory, of course they have much bigger ambitions later in the season. Race will have live broadcast on Eurosport and Slovenian national television, but many Slovenians will of course rather choose to be by the roads.

What the speakers said on the press conference:

Tadej Pogačar, UAE Team Emirates: “There have been two months since my last race, I’m glad to be on the start of Tour of Slovenia now, this is one of the most beautiful races in the world. I really look forward to this week. We came here with a strong team, most of us will also race Tour de France. For us this is almost a main rehearsal, our goal is to really connect. We always go to a race with a desire to win and we want to do our best on this race as well. But we also want to enjoy at the same time.
Race will take us though my hometown. I’ll get goose bumps when we pass Komenda for sure, if we’ll not go too fast, I might even stop for a moment.
This is my home race, a beautiful race. It has five stages, which suits me good, I think I don’t need seven or nine racing days before we head to France. I will have a good rest after this race and follow my training plan. In the future I might choose to go to Switzerland or Duaphiné as well.”

Matej Mohorič, Bahrain-Victorious: “Liège–Bastogne–Liège was also last race for me. After that race I had to rest for three weeks, I was extremely tired from all races in the first part of the season. Then I followed my plan and worked hard, I hope to now see fruits of my labor. If not this week, then later on the Tour de France.
My primary goal is a stage victory. First stage is up to my taste, so is the last one with the climb to Trška gora just kilometers before the finish in Novo mesto. I will also go for the overall if I will feel good, but I think I’m not on the same level as this fellow next to me (Tadej Pogačar).
We came to Tour of Slovenia with a strong team, there are four Slovenians in our lineup. Matevž Govekar will get to learn the team on this race, but since he’s fast he might also sprint in one of the stages. Domen Novak is very strong and has good legs after Giro, he might go for the overall. We’re always the best team on the races, that’s because we have the best support and everybody works hard for us. Of course I race in Slovenia to get ready for Tour de France and we’ll see what can I do there.”

 Mojca Novak, President of the Tour of Slovenia organizational committee and president of the Adria Mobil Cycling Team: “This year's Tour of Slovenia is again a great organizational challenge, as the project includes over 40 destinations that will write the story and image of this year's green cycling ribbon, while more than a thousand participants will take care that the race is carried out properly.
I am proud and honored that the Tour of Slovenia, which is one of the most resounding sports and tourism projects in Slovenia, has always been organized by the Novo mesto cycling club, which in this year is celebrating 50th anniversary of its existence and operation. Also, the 28th Tour of Slovenia is a reflection of the heartiness of the organizational structure and I am convinced that this will be felt at all stages of this year's race.
I sincerely thank all those who support the cycling club and the Tour of Slovenia cycling race. With professional and heartfelt work, we will continue to strive to justify the trust of our sponsors, partners, fans and all of you who are in one way or another connected to this unique cycling story.”

 Maja Pak, MSc., Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board: “After four great years, the Slovenian Tourist Board is upgrading the cooperation with the Tour of Slovenia. We’re proud that Tadej Pogačar, ambassador of Slovenian tourism, will also compete on the race, which will give the event an additional attention. For the fifth consecutive year the Slovenian Tourist Board has enabled live broadcast of the race on Eurosport and Eurosport.com. We will introduce Slovenia to fans of active holidays with 218 ads and 3 million displayed web banners, we’ll also do intensive branding with I feel Slovenia brand on the roads. 66 touristic attractions from 39 destinations will be shown during the 10 hours long broadcast on Eurosport. Special emphasis will be placed on sustainable and responsible behavior during the race, which strengthens the already recognizable slogan of the race 'Fight for Green' and our core sustainable commitment.”

Klemen Miklavič, PhD, mayor of Nova Gorica: “Nova Gorica and Gorizia are the venue of major international sports, cultural and other events, showing that our cross-border area is gaining visibility and recognition, which it deserves as a region of exceptional opportunities in all aspects, in tourism, economy, sports and culture. I am pleased that this year the Tour of Slovenia is taking place in our cross-border region, in municipalities where the predominantly Slovene-speaking population lives. By doing so, we connect our region as a whole also in the field of sports and spectacle, and we are gaining in the unity of the region. Thus, we have made another successful step towards bringing down the border that has divided our region for so many years.”