After a speedy rise to the highest {of professional} biking, Slovenia might be in line to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2029 with preliminary contact reportedly being made with race organiser ASO.
Thanks to the success of three-time Tour champion Tadej Pogačar, four-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič and Milan-San Remo winner Matej Mohorič, Slovenia has change into one of many main nations within the sport even with its small inhabitants of two.1 million folks.
Roglič is more likely to have retired in 2029 however Pogačar is underneath contract with UAE Team Emirates and so the ultimate years of his profession may embody a house Grand Départ.
The first overseas Grand Départ of the Tour was within the Netherlands in 1954, with 11 completely different nations happening to host the opening phases since then. If Slovenia is to change into a future Grand Départ host, there are a couple of governmental steps that should be taken. However the native organisers are bold.
“The first talks have been held, together with one with the director of ASO. The French facet is prepared, ASO is able to pay attention. But now we would wish some sort of authorities letter of intent,” Tomaž Ambrožič instructed RTV Slovenija.
Ambrožič is the founder and director of Sport Media Focus, who organise L’Etape Slovenia by Tour de France, as a part of ASO’s worldwide L’Etape collection. This connection has made the concept of a Slovenian Grand Départ potential.
“Is Slovenia prepared to do this? I hope so,” continued Ambrožič. “Maybe this can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative. This will not be an unattainable and unfeasible dream.”
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According to Ambrožič, the mayor of Kranj, Slovenia’s third-largest metropolis, Matjaž Rakovec, who’s a companion of the L’Etape occasion in Slovenia, has introduced the initiative to Matjaž Han – the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport in Slovenia’s authorities.
It will now as much as Han and the federal government to maneuver the ‘dream’ ahead and make additional contact with ASO, who’ve agreed to an increasing number of overseas Grand Departs within the final decade.
While Slovenia’s nationwide biking federation, the Kolesarska zveza Slovenije (KSV), will not be straight concerned in any proposal based on RTVSlo, it has expressed assist for Slovenia internet hosting the opener of the Tour in 4 years.
“This is certainly the want of Slovenian biking. We have champions, visitor appearances are potential. We will not be closing the door to such cooperation,” stated Rok Lozej, President of the KSV.
The price of internet hosting a global Grand Départ is normally above ten million Euro, with different native coss resembling police and security measures. To share the prices, Slovenia may work with regional neighbours in Italy, particularly the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area.
Lozej was on the Giro route presentation on Monday, the place he had time to catch-up with Paolo Urbani, venture supervisor of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area’s phases on the upcoming Giro d’Italia.
2025 marks an necessary yr in Italian biking. It is 100 years since Ottavio Bottecchia grew to become the primary Italian to win the Tour de France, with a joint bid for a Slovenian-Italian Grand Depart in 2029 providing up the right likelihood to honour him.
“The purpose is to honour Bottecchia,” stated Urbani to TuttoBiciWeb.
“If the Tour began from Slovenia we may attain an settlement with our neighbour to have a part of a stage move via our roads, maybe to honour the good Venetian champion from San Martino Colle Umberto, the primary Italian to win the Tour de France 100 years in the past and who died in tragic circumstances in 1927.”