Strike while the iron is hot

Tour of Slovenia with a win-win combination

18. junij 2018 ob 11.22 • Novo mesto - MMC RTV SLO

The Tour of Slovenia is currently the hot iron which we need to keep in the fire. Foto: BoBo

History cannot be bought. That is how director Bogdan Fink describes the slow, yet consistent growth of the Tour of Slovenia, which until recently has been merely a side note of the crowded calendar of tours held under the auspices of International Cycling Association.

Today, this tour still does not rank high in the UCI categorisation, but it boasts a history, as well as soul and an increasing international recognition. It takes years for the public to recognise the value of an event, so the organisers need to work hard during all the time, even though results are not immediate. But, with enough persistence, a shift occurs – for the better or for the worst. And after this year's tour, we have the impression that the tour experienced a shift in a positive direction.

Famous names in cycling have indeed come to Slovenia in the past. Winners of the Tour of Slovenia have been Vincenzo Nibali, Diego Ulissi, Jakob Fuglsang; its key names have been Domenico Pozzovivo, Marc Cavendish, Michael Matthews, Sam Bennett, Elia Viviani – all famous names in the world of cycling, but interest in the tour has never come close to that of this year.
This year's winning combination was Primož Roglič, perhaps the first Slovene cyclist in history to be a real magnet for attracting masses of visitors, coupled with TV coverage at home and abroad, which convinced even Slovenes that we truly have beautiful countryside.

The Tour of Slovenia is currently the hot iron which we need to keep in the fire. There is still no final agreement that next year’s investment in the tour will remain the same. The current budget is around one million euros, but last week no one opposed the fact that this amount had been well invested. Agreements need to be reached soon so that there can be more time for management work, in relation to who will be the star of next year’s tour and to prepare a route that will suit those preparing for the Tour de France, because the Tour of Slovenia has become a springboard for France.

Nothing is wrong with that – the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse and others serve the same purpose. To be a springboard for the French Tour is exceptional, especially when we recall the times when the Tour of Slovenia was on the brink of survival. So, all praise to the Novo mesto organisers. They will definitely not be resting on their laurels. May the Tour thrive, for we all know that it’s only at 25 that you come into your best sports years.