Road cycling in the land of champions: Slovenia

Road cycling in Slovenia means travelling between Alpine passes, vineyards and the Adriatic coast in the footsteps of true champions. With superstars such as Tadej Pogačar, the small country has shaken up the world elite in recent years - showing what its roads and mountains are capable of. Away from the big races, amateur racing cyclists will find unrivalled terrain: little-used side roads, impressive Alpine climbs, Mediterranean flair and a naturalness that is hard to find in the rest of Europe. Slovenia is still a real insider tip for road bikers - green, authentic and full of white spots on the bike map. Anyone who sits in the saddle here quickly realises that this is "the place to ride" - the land of champions and quiet road bike dreams.

Of course, the country's great enthusiasm for road cycling is no coincidence. Slovenia has produced a number of professional cyclists in recent years, most notably Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar. Roglič, a former ski jumper, became an absolute cycling great with his victories at the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia. Pogačar, on the other hand, made history with his Tour de France victories in 2020 and 2021 and secured the Giro d'Italia in 2024. Both athletes have catapulted Slovenia onto the world cycling map and further ignited the passion for road cycling in their home country.

Tadej Pogačar has long been recognised as the exceptional talent of a new generation of cyclists. With his unshakeable coolness in the saddle, paired with youthful insouciance, he shook up the elite early on. Since his legendary victory in Paris in 2020 , he is no longer just an insider tip, but a superstar who can turn entire stages upside down with his aggression and tactical finesse. For many young Slovenian riders today, he is the role model par excellence, showing that Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

Primož Roglič, the "silent fighter" from Zagorje, is a completely different story. While Pogačar stands out with his youthful charm and aggression, Roglič stands for iron discipline, the ability to suffer and an almost stoic focus. His transformation from ski jumper to multiple Grand Tour winner is a story that sounds almost too good to be true - and yet is a reality. Together with Pogačar, he epitomises what Slovenia is today: a country of champions.

Whether on the tracks of the local pros or on the lonely panoramic roads between the Alps and the Adriatic – road cycling in Slovenia combines top sporting performance with unique diversity. Where world-class professionals have laid the foundations for their history, amateur cyclists will also find perfect conditions: steep pass roads in the Julian Alps, Mediterranean flair in Istria, endless gravel and side roads in the Savinja Valley or the wide panoramas of the Solčava Road. Hardly any other country in Europe offers so many contrasts in such a small area - and that's exactly what makes it so appealing.

Road cycling in Slovenia – our conclusion:

Slovenia is more than just the home of two cycling champions. It is a paradise for road cyclists looking for variety, authenticity and real adventure. Anyone who pedals here will immediately understand why the world's elite and connoisseurs alike have fallen in love with this small country.