The weather forecast was unfavorable, but Izola was sunny by the morning. Spring temperatures were ideal for racing, and, thanks to strong wind, the roads had completely dried up before the start. The peloton fractured not sooner than in the final large lap.

A Dynamic Race from Start to Finish

Among the 29 teams, four were Slovenian: Adria Mobil, Factor Racing, Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana, and Ribno Alpine Resort Bled. On paper, the strongest development teams were XDS Astana and Bahrain Victorious. The latter featured Jakob Omrzel and Žak Eržen. Last year’s winner, Polish rider Marcin Budziński, also took part, this year racing for the Czech team ATT Investment.

Attempts to breakaway were frequent in the early laps, but no rider managed to establish a significant lead. The race unfolded in an unconventional manner, with a constant battle for the best climber points on the four ascents of Baredi. By the fourth climb, the peloton had already splintered, with four riders tied at the top with five points each: Henrique Da Silva Avancini (Factor Racing), Erik Fetter (Team United Shipping), Francesco Parravano (MG.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente), and Jakob Omrzel. The final classification was determined at the finish line!

In the Dragonja Valley, 43 km before the finish, New Zealand champion Paul Wright (Factor Racing) managed to break away. He was soon joined by other riders, including Fetter, Avancini, and Budziński brothers, Tomasz (Voster ATS Team) and last year's winner Marcin. The only Slovenian to join the breakaway group was Mihael Štajnar (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana), forming a leading group of fifteen riders as they entered the local laps in Izola.

The Decisive Attack in Izola

During the smaller laps around Izola, Piotr Pekala (ATT Investments) launched the first attack, winning the first intermediate sprint. However, the decisive move came 16 kilometres before the finish when Michiel Coppens (Beat Cycling Club) successfully attacked, having already attempted to breakaway in the third lap. The Belgian rider crossed the second and third intermediate sprints first. The chasers lacked cohesion, allowing Coppens to extend his lead to 43 seconds by the finish, securing his first victory in a categorized race.

His teammate Friets Biesterbos won the sprint from the nine-rider chasing group, with Tomasz Budziński finishing third. Coppens also claimed the points classification for intermediate sprints. The mountain classification was won by Avancini, a two-time mountain bike marathon champion, who finished eighth – his best result on the road in his first season.

The sprint from the large chasing group for 16th place was won by Žak Eržen, while Tilen Finkšt (Adria Mobil) finished 18th.

The winner shared his thoughts at the finish, emphasizing the importance of his early attack in the third lap: “It was pretty hard, so I tried to anticipate the climb, and that really worked. On the descent, I saw I was with two other guys. On the local laps, there were a lot of attacks, but I had two teammates with me and told them I was feeling great. At first, I wanted to wait for the sprint, but then I saw an opportunity to attack, so I took it. I knew I had two teammates behind if I got caught. In the end, it was like a small time trial, so I am very happy.”

Similar Competition Expected at the Grand Prix Brda-Collio Powered by I Feel Slovenia

The Slovenian spring racing program continues on Thursday, March 27, with the second edition of the Grand Prix Brda-Collio Powered by I Feel Slovenia. The race starts at 11 AM at Dobrovo Castle, followed by ten 15-kilometer laps through the Slovenian Brda and Italian Collio regions.

The three-race series concludes on Sunday, March 30, with the I Feel Slovenia Grand Prix Adria Mobil in Novo Mesto. Both races will be broadcast live on Planet 2 and available for streaming on the Slovenian Cycling Federation’s YouTube channel – @Sloveniacycling.

The start of the GP of Slovenian Istria is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Cankarjev drevored, as in previous years, but the finish line had to be moved due to a newly installed speed bump on the road.  As a result, cyclists will now continue along Cankarjev drevored until the end, with the finish line set on Prešernova Street.

Four Slovenian Teams on the Start Line

The professional team Solution Tech-Vini Fantini withdrew from the race at the last moment. Despite this, up to 174 riders are expected to compete, as all teams will be allowed to start with six riders each.

All three Slovenian UCI Continental teams will take part: Adria Mobil, Factor Racing, and Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana, along with Ribno Alpine Resort. The start list also includes development teams from two UCI WorldTour teams: Kazakhstan’s XDS-Astana and Bahrain Victorious. Riding for Bahrain Victorious will be young talents Jakob Omrzel and Žak Eržen, the latter already a member of the WorldTour squad.

Live Broadcast on Planet 2

The finale of the race will be broadcast live on Planet 2 from 4:00 PM. The broadcast will also be available foron the YouTube channel of the Slovenian Cycling Federation @sloveniacycling.
 
 

Slovenia might be among smaller countries in the world, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its diversity. In fact, this green country (over 60% is forested) is the only European country where the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Karst and the Pannonian Plain meet.

A natural playground with an astonishing diversity of terrains, Slovenia invites you to spend time outdoors; be it in the mountains, among the rolling hills, on the coastline and in the sea, in the green forests, by the rivers and lakes or even in the caves. Unique and unforgettable active adventures are guaranteed, no matter the season.

Prestine and diverse nature together with Slovenia's unique location at the crossroads of four geographically completely different worlds are just a few of the most important reasons why sport is such a big part of Slovenian identity. There is even a holiday dedicated to sports, celebrated every 23 September.

If you add a well-organized sports infrastructure, then it is not surprising that Slovenians are definitely among the top in the world in terms of the number of sports achievements per inhabitant.

Cyclists Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič, basketball player Luka Dončić, sports climber Janja Garnbret and many other Slovenian names in the world of sports fill the headlines of the world media and push the boundaries of the possible. Their incredible achievements make some people believe that Slovenian athletes come from another planet, but they’ve guessed it wrong: they come from heavenly beautiful Slovenia, a small green country in Central Europe, with a big sporting heart.

Discover Slovenia

Foto: Jošt Gantar

After a series of races in the Croatian Istria, cycling action in this part of Europe moves to Slovenia, but remains close to the sea.

Challenging loops promise an exciting race

The route of the Grand Prix of Slovenian Istria powered by I Feel Slovenia remains unchanged from previous years, ensuring a thrilling race with an unpredictable sprint finish. The four large laps, featuring the climb to Barede, allow teams to set a fierce pace and wear down the fast riders. The descent into Dragonja is followed by a flat section past the Sečovlje salt pans to Portorož, before three short climbs along the main road past Strunjan and over Belvedere, returning to Izola. The finale includes three additional 7-kilometer loops.

Once again, prizes will be awarded for the best climber, based on points from the four KOM finishes on Barede, and for the best sprinter, based on points from the intermediate sprints in the final three laps in Izola.

Last year’s breakaway too strong for a reduced peloton

Last year’s race was highly dynamic, with the decisive attack happening already in the fourth and final large lap. More than 50 kilometers from the finish, Riccardo Zoidl (Team Felt Felbermayr) broke away from the peloton. He was later joined by six more riders, and together they maintained a lead of about 30 seconds over the peloton, which had been significantly reduced due to the high pace.

In the end, Polish rider Marcin Budzinski (Mazowsze Serce Polski) won the sprint from a two-man breakaway, beating Dutchman Max van der Meulen (CTF Victorious). Zoidl finished 7 seconds behind them, just ahead of the peloton, which was led by Anže Skok (Adria Mobil) in the sprint for fourth place.

Broadcast on Planet TV 2 and Youtube channel Slovenia Cycling

On March 27, the peloton will head to Goriška Brda for the Grand Prix Brda-Collio, held for the second consecutive year. Then, on Sunday, March 30, the riders will move to the Dolenjska region for the 10th edition of the Grand Prix Adria Mobil. All three races will be broadcast live on Planet TV 2.

The Slovenian road cycling season kicked off once again with an international 2.1 category race, featuring 30 teams and an impressive lineup of 172 riders from 31 countries. As in previous years, the Cycling Federation of Slovenia received support from all four coastal municipalities -Izola, Piran, Koper, and Ankaran - in organizing the event. In collaboration with the Slovenian Tourist Board and the I Feel Slovenia brand, the race was once again broadcast live, with many viewers tuning in via MMC RTV Slovenia.

A long breakaway by two escapees

The race took place under perfect spring conditions, with a high pace causing a significant drop in the number of finishers - only 86 riders, half of the starting peloton, made it to the finish. Along the way, competitors battled for prizes at three mountain sprints in Barede and three intermediate sprints on the short laps in Izola.

For a significant portion of the race, Italian Bryan Olivo (CTF Victorious) and Briton Max Walker (Astana-Qazaqstan Development Team) led the breakaway, with Walker also claiming the mountain sprint classification. In the first half of the race, the duo built a lead of up to six minutes, with the Czech teams ATT Investments and VF Group-Bardiani-CSF-Faizane investing the most effort in the chase.

Decisive attack over 50 kilometers from the finish

The race turned in the fourth lap when Riccardo Zoidl (Felt-Felbermeyer) attacked on the final ascent to Barede. Walker managed to follow, and by the time they descended from Šmarje into the Dragonja Valley, four more riders had joined them—Max van der Meulen (CTF Victorious), Byron Munton (Epronex-Hungary Cycling Team), Martin Messner (WSA-KTM Graz), and Marcin Budzinski (Mazowsze Serce Polski). Working together, they maintained a lead of around 30 seconds ahead of the chasing peloton.

Jaka Marolt (Sava Kranj) and David Paumann (Tirol KTM) attempted to bridge the gap 34 kilometers from the finish but were unsuccessful. As the leaders approached the final large circuit before Izola, their group began to splinter on the last climb. Zoidl, van der Meulen, and Budzinski entered the final laps alone. Meanwhile, Max Walker, the breakaway rider from the second lap, struggled to keep up, while the peloton's deficit extended beyond 50 seconds. Once again, Bardiani riders, arguably the strongest team on paper, took on most of the chase workload.

A dynamic finish

With about five kilometers to go, Zoidl, the oldest rider in the group at 35, dropped off the lead trio. Three kilometers from the finish, van der Meulen launched an attack on the final climb but was quickly countered by Budzinski. The Dutchman tried again moments later, but once more, his move was neutralized. In the final 500 meters, tactical maneuvering between the two almost allowed Zoidl to rejoin them.

Ultimately, in a long sprint, Marcin Budzinski proved strongest, securing a second consecutive Polish victory following Bartlomiej Proć's success last year. Max van der Meulen had to settle for second place but could take solace in winning the intermediate sprint classification. Riccardo Zoidl held off the peloton to claim third place.

Anže Skok (Adria Mobil) won the bunch sprint for fourth place, repeating his strong performance from last year when he finished third. Žak Eržen (CTF Victorious) finished sixth, marking his fifth top-10 result in his debut senior season. Another Slovenian in the top ten was Skok's teammate, Tilen Finkšt.

Winner Marcin Budzinski: "Finding the right moment was key"

Marcin Budzinski was understandably pleased with his victory: "The key was finding the right moment to break away. I know it's not conventional, but I knew this was my best chance to win. I'm not a sprinter, but I enjoy climbs. When I feel good, I can sprint well and beat stronger riders."

Anže Skok: "We fell just short"

Anže Skok, however, was left somewhat disappointed: "I won the peloton sprint, but unfortunately, the breakaway group stayed ahead. We fell just short, but overall, I think we did a great job. Finkšt and I executed our plan well in the finale. Now, we look ahead to the next races, where we aim even higher."

Three more Slovenian races this week

The 10th Grand Prix of Slovenian Istria powered by I Feel Slovenia was just the first of four Slovenian spring races. The action continues on Tuesday with the Grand Prix Brda-Collio, followed by the Grand Prix Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley on Wednesday. The series concludes on Sunday, March 24, with the Grand Prix Adria Mobil.

The first in a series of four Slovenian spring one-day races will once again showcase the beauty of the Slovenian Istria tourist destination, which is a popular retreat for cyclists, especially in the winter and spring seasons. Not only for tourism, but also for domestic cycling teams, it is important that the Cycling Federation of Slovenia, in partnership with the Slovenian Tourist Board and the I Feel Slovenia brand, will once again provide a live broadcast.

Collaboration with Coastal Municipalities

Last year, the Slovenian Cycling Federation revived its collaboration with all four coastal municipalities - Izola, Piran, Koper, and Ankaran. The route of the Grand Prix of Slovenian Istria powered by I Feel Slovenia thus passes through some of the most beautiful spots on the Istrian coast and its hinterland, guaranteeing exciting racing.

176 cyclists from as many as 30 teams are expected in Izola. On the 33-kilometer-long main circuit, they will climb to Barede and descend through Gažon and Šmarje under the picturesque village of Padna into the Dragonja Valley. The route then continues along the Sečovlje Salt Pans Landscape Park into Portorož and through Strunjan back to Izola. The final segment includes three laps of just over seven kilometers in Izola and its immediate surroundings.

Statement from the President of the Slovenian Cycling Federation

President of the Slovenian Cycling Federation, Pavel Marđonović: "The cycling season begins on Slovenian roads. I am pleased that another race has joined the trio of races this year, making a total of four international races in one week. This season opener has become well-established, and there is great interest among teams. For the third consecutive year, we are collaborating with the Slovenian Tourist Board – I Feel Slovenia, which allows us to provide live race broadcasts. I am happy that cycling races have been recognized as an excellent platform for promoting Slovenia. We will continue working hard to provide these races for our cyclists, enabling them to develop their potential and prove themselves to international teams."
 

As usual, the race on the Slovenian coast was an introduction to the Slovenian cycling season. For the second year in a row, sunny weather and ideal conditions for cycling awaited cyclists in the center of Izola. This year, there were 148 cyclists from 28 countries and 26 teams at the start including five Slovenian teams that had big goals in the home race.

For the first two hours, the rhythm was calm. Slovenia Fabijan Kralj (Ljubljana Gusto Santic) and Canadian Matthew King (XSpeed United Continental) where leading in a breakaway with almost 4 minutes of advantage. The main group soon picked up the pace and the lead started to melt away. Matthew King, remained alone in the breakaway and fought well to win the KOM trophy. The main group caught the escapee about 50 km before the finish line.

It proved once again that the route is quite selective, but the winner is decided in a sprint of the diluted group. Despite the constant attacks that took place in the last three city laps, a group of 40 riders came to the finish. In the fast sprint Proc was able to take advantage of a great position, narrowly beating the Italian Bruttomesso and the Slovenian Skok. It was Proc's first UCI category race victory.

"It was a very fast and chaotic finish and I'm happy to take my first victory in the UCI category races," Bartłomiej Proć said after the race.

Anže Skok was very satisfied with the 3rd place: "Finally everything came together for us. We rode the whole race just as we imagined. First we had Fabijan in the breakaway, but in the finishing kilometres  we always kept positions in the front. It's always rock and roll in these city laps, there's a lot of attacks and the group stretches out. Before the sprint I was in a good position and I only went full throttle in the finish line. I am very satisfied with the 3rd place."

Foto: Vid Ponikvar

The charm of the Alpine peaks, colourful meadows, green forests and crystal waters that you pass along the way invite you to an unforgettable experience.

Explore the routes and get inspired for your next cycling adventure in Slovenia

https://www.slovenia.info/en/stories/top-road-cycling-tours-in-slovenia

Photo: Ciril Jazbec, TENT Film, Slovenian Tourist Board

The most important attack happened before the final laps in Izola with David Per (Adria Mobil), Felix Engelhardt (Tirol KTM) and Fran Miholjević (Fiuli) made the lead of over 1 minute. The leaders were cought 4 km before the finish . In the final kilometers the duo of Daniel Auer and Oliver Stockwell gained small advantage on the downhill and sprinted for the victory, which was won by Auer. Auer is the second Austrian rider to won the race, after Gregor Mühlberger in 2015.

GP Slovenia Istria is the first race of the season on the slovenian roads, the next one is GP Nove Gorice in Vipavske doline on the 24th of march, and on the 27th of march is GP Adria Mobil in Novo mesto.

The race is UCI 1.2 category which featured 20 teams from 10 countries.

The race was decided in the bunch sprint in Izola. The fastest was 29 year old Maestri, who outsprinted fellow Italians Leonardo Marchiori (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec) and Daniele Smarzaro (D’Amico-UM Tools). The race also featured KoM and Sprint competition which was won by Kristjan Hočevar and David Per (both Adria Mobil).

Maestri is the third Italian with the win in Izola; Christian Della Stella (won in 2014) and Filippo Fortin (won in 2017). Other winners of the race are Austrian Gregor Mühlberger (2015), Slovenian Jure Golčer (2016), Serbian Dušan Rajović (2018) and Slovenian Marko Kump (2019).

That is why we have to cancel GP Slovenian Istria 2020.

Kind regards,

Slovenia Cycling Federation

Stara in jezna čarovnica Zima si je letos od vseh mestec izbrala prav Izolo ter jo uročila v ledeni otok - bilo ji je pač malo dolgčas. Na ves glas je zarjovela: "V Izoli naj od zdaj naprej vladajo le jeza, dolgčas in mraz", ob tem pa dodala še "…edino, kar lahko reši meščane, so pravljična bitja in otroci, ki morajo celo zimo rajati in odganjati zle sile uroka!"

Pravljična bitja so se ob tej novici takoj zbrala na sestanku in pripravila najbolj zabavno in čarobno zimsko dogajanje kar jih pomnimo. Čarovnica lahko le sanja, da jim ne bo uspelo. Na sestanku so se bitja odločno dogovorila, da bodo s svojimi dobrimi silami prižgala luči, ki bodo mesto krasile vse do zadnjega dne zimskega rajanja, s katerim bomo dokončno pokopali urok stare čarovnice. Zima bo tako Izolo ovila v čarobni plašč ter jo spremenila v pravi #LedeniOtok zabave. Pravljični junaki bodo tako 30. novembra s svojim petjem izolske ulice, parke in ceste ovili v bleščeč sijaj, ki bo mesto krasil vse dokler s skupnim rajanjem ne premagamo čarovnije.

Na drsališču z ribičem Bepijem
Izolski ribič Bepi je že čisto neučakan. Vsak dan pridno brusi svoje drsalke, na katerih se bo podal v magični svet zimskih zgodb, glasbe, plesa in drugih nepozabnih zimskih doživetij. Slišal je namreč, da bo v Izolo prišel pomagat tudi Dedek Mraz z vsemi svojimi pomočniki, ki prav zdaj pripravljajo čisto novo drsališče. Vsak dan razpošlje tisoče in tisoče vabil vsem otrokom tega sveta in jih vabi, da skupaj z njim in pridnimi pravljičnimi bitji na drsalkah prinesejo v mesto veselje in zabavo.

Kaj vse vas čaka?
Celoten program prazničnega dogajanja so zimski škratje objavili kar na svoji spletni strani. Otroke bodo v svet glasbe popeljali Lea Sirk in pravljični junaki, Andreja Zupančič, Žiga Rustja, pevski zbor Lilith, Duo Pingo, izolski otroški, mladinski in odrasli pevski zbori in mnogi drugi. Z Veselimi rokicami - čisto pravimi pravljični junaki bomo lahko plesali, peli in rajali pozno v noč. Otroci bodo zapeljani tudi v svet zimskih zgodb. Zvrstile se bodo številne predstave in filmske projekcije: Kozlovska sodba v Višnji Gori, O starki zimi in njenih pomočnikih, Pod prazničnim dežnikom, Čarodej in govoreči radio, Charivari, Zimske radosti, Zima je prima, Mala šola cirkusa, Ledena pravljica in druge. Mesto bo za piko na i obiskal tudi čisto pravi čarodej, pred katerim se lahko stara čarovnica samo skrije.

Seveda pa zabava ni rezervirana samo za otroke! Tudi starši boste lahko zaplesali v poskočnih zimskih ritmih, ki jih bodo na Lonki pričarali Kompanija Izolana, Lisjaki, Vlado Kreslin, Čuki, Ne me jugat, Tempera band, Primorski fantje in mnogi drugi.

Pravljična bitja z Bepijem na čelu nestrpno čakajo, da se skupaj poveselimo in tako enkrat za vselej premagamo zimski dolgčas.

Click download link to view, complete statistics of the riders.

12.00: Dirka v Izoli se je začela!
12:18: Kolesarji so v prvem krogu, trenutno ima Rietziger Felix 12 sekund naskoka pred glavnino.
12:27: Prednost ubežnika pred glavnino znaša 30 sekund.
12:32: V živo lahko spremljate tudi GPS položaj kolesarjev na krogu. Najdete ga tukaj - https://www.greenalp.com/realtimetracker/index.php...
13:01: Prednost dveh ubežnikov znaša 5 minut in 30 sekund pred glavnino.
13:30: Prednost ubežnikov znaša 3 minute in pol pred glavnino.
14:00: Prednost ubežnikov je 4 minute in 15 sekund, v glavnini tempo narekuje ekipa Neri Sottoli.
14:30: Stanje na cesti je nespremenjeno, prednost ubežnikov se vrti okrog štirih minut, tempo še vedno narekuje ekipa Neri Sottoli.
14:50: Prednost ubežnikov se je začela topiti, trenutno znaša 2 minuti in 30 sekund.
14:58: Kolesarji so v zadnjem od štirih večjih krogov, ubežnika imata še minuto in 10 sekund prednosti. Nato kolesarje čakajo še trije manjši krogi v Izoli.
15:14: Tempo v glavnini je nekoliko padel, na čelu so ob kolesarjih Neri Sottolija še člani Ljubljane Gusto Santic, prednost ubežnikov pa še vedno znaša več kot minuto.
15:31: Ob vstopu v zadnje tri kroge v Izoli imata ubežnika le še slabe pol minute prednosti.
15:36: Še 20 sekund prednosti.
15:40: 15 sekund.
15:45: Glavnina je ujela ubežnike, odločal bo šprint.

16:05: Šprint je pripadel Marku Kumpu iz Adrie Mobil, ki je zmagovalec 6. VN Slovenske Istre.

One of the best Italian cyclists of the past decade has had a very good career, in which he already won 31 professional races. He became the Italian national champion three times, he won two stages in the Giro d'Italia and also triumphed in the UCI Europe Tour at the end of the season three times.

Visconti has already won on Slovenian roads. In 2009, he was racing with the ISD Cycling Team in the Tour of Slovenia and was the fastest in the stage that ended at Ljubljana Castle. Visconti stepped down from the World Tour ranking, where he was racing for Bahrain Merida. This season he joined the team Neri Sottoli, and he will race in their colours in Izola.

There are 22 teams from seven countries on the starting list, most of them (6) are Slovenian teams, and there will also be five Italian teams at the start.

6. GP Slovenian Istria Start List

Competition at the 6th of GP Slovenian Istria in Izola will be very strong. There are 21 teams from neighbouring countries, as well as from Ireland and Germany. Five Slovene teams are registered, along with Adria Mobil and Ljubljana Gusto Santic with continental licenses, KK Kranj, KK Bled and MebloJogi Pro-Concrete, which are not UCI license holders, will also be at the start line, but with “club” licence. 

On the start list is also the Italian team Neri Sottoli, who has a ProContinental license and is currently the strongest name on the starting list of the Slovenian start of the cycling season.

List of teams for 6th GP Slovenian Istria:

Official results 6. GP-Slovenian Istria

The tradition of the race in Izola began in 2014, at the first edition Italian Christian Delle Stelle was the best. The next year victory went to Austria, the fastest was Gregor Mühlberger, who just started his cycling ascent with win in Izola, and in the summer of 2015 he moved to Bora Argon and in the jersey of Bora Hansgrohe he is still performing very well today. At that edition of the race Slovenian star Primož Roglič was second. 

In the third edition, Slovenia achieved its first victory, brought by Jure Golčer, who celebrated in the Adria Mobil jersey. In 2017, the Italians were again at the front, in the sprint at the finish line Filippo Fortin was faster than “Dolenjska puščica” Marko Kump.

Last year, in the shortened race in the strong wind and cold, Adria Mobil again celebrated victory which went to Dušan Rajović from Serbia. This year, Rajović will again be one of the main candidates for victory in Istria.

Race was categorized by code 1.2. and it should have been 157 kilometers long, but because of the strong gusts of wind, the organizers decided to give the cyclists only the circles around Izola, so they had only 106.5 kilometers to race.

Slovenian riders were in good position for quite some time, as Gregor Gazvoda (Adria Mobil) and the promising Tadej Pogačar (Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum) were in the breakaway for the majority of the race, and Gašper Katrašnik (Adria Mobil) also worked with them for a few kilometers. In the end, sprint again proved to be decisive and Dušan Rajović was the strongest.