They were almost all there. Almost all the Slovenes who race in World Tour teams (the best in the world), 7 out of 8 with the exception of Primoz Roglic, took the start of the Tour of Slovenia (until June 19), this Wednesday. And they made the powder speak from the first laces of the first stage of their national tour. Especially the best of them, Tadej Pogacar.
The defending champion and double winner of the Tour de France certainly raised his arms in Postojna, the end of this first mid-mountain stage starting from Nova Gorica, in the heat and in front of a large and enthusiastic public. But it was to celebrate the victory of his Polish teammate Rafal Majka, winner ahead of two Slovenians, Domen Novak (Bahrain Victorious) and Pogacar, therefore, after a three-way breakaway.
“Tadej is really impressive”
“Tadej is really impressive, reacted Majka. It was not necessarily the strategy to attack so early, from day one. We are coming back from training at altitude, we had to readapt, it was hot. But that’s racing. Tadej let me fight for the victory, but he will win the others, he is very strong. »
For its first race in two months, Pogacar (UAE Emirates) indeed launched hostilities in the first major difficulty, the climb of Zadlog (2nd category), 56 km from the finish. Only followed by Majka and Novak therefore, in sight on the slopes of the Giro. Behind, two other Slovenes, again them, Jan Tratnik and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain), tried to lead the hunt. In vain. Thanks to the last two difficulties, the gap remained around one minute and a half.
The UAE Emirates team begins the 800 km walk in Slovenia in the best possible way, by taking the leader’s jersey, green, in the image of the magnificent landscapes of the country. But in three weeks in France, it’s a jersey of another color that Pogacar will be aiming for on the roads of the Tour de France.