Slovenian cyclists celebrated on Sunday as professional and UCI amateur cycling events resumed in the country after a three month COVID-19 hiatus.
On Sunday in the national championship professional race Primož Roglič (JUMBO_VISMA) beat Tadej Pogačar (UAE TEAM EMIRATES) by 10 seconds to become the new Slovenian National Road Race champion on a course that finished with a steep final climb of 8.3km averaging 7.8 percent.
On resumption of racing and his victory, Roglič said, “It is really wonderful that the situation allows us to finally race again and to do what we do best, racing our bikes. I am therefore very happy that I was able to take the national title in my first race of the season”
Amateurs also enjoyed stretching their legs at Bike Festival Celje on 108 and 151km courses around the city of Celje, the third-largest town in Slovenia. The event was ideal preparation for upcoming gran fondo races.
On 28 June the sold-out Gran Fondo Portorose will host 500 registered riders (COVID-19 limit) in the beautiful Adriatic seaside resort of Portorož on 42, 56, 76 and 126km routes. The season opening race brings together cyclists from all across Slovenia, Croatia and eastern Italy.
13th edition of Marathon Alpe Scott gran fondo will take place on 5 July in the Kamnik Alps on the Slovenia-Austrian border. The 130km racing route climbs over 2000m and three mountain passes, Jezerski vrh, Pavličevo sedlo and Črnivec.
UCI Gran Fondo World Series racing will restart 5-6 September at UCI Maraton Franja gran fondo in Ljubljana. With both time-trial and road race events scheduled, riders will be able to qualify for the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar – updated daily
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