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Slovenia 17 Jun – 21 Jun 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website www.tourofslovenia.si
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 32nd edition of the Tour of Slovenia (2.Pro) takes place from June 17 to June 21, 2026. The race features 5 stages covering a total distance of approximately 810.7 kilometers with over 11,000 meters of elevation gain, including a highly anticipated return to the famous Vršič Pass.
Here is the official stage program and route details for the 2026 race:
Official Stage Schedule
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type / Key Features |
| Stage 1 | Wed, June 17 | Velenje $\rightarrow$ Rogaška Slatina | 141.3 km | Flat / Plain Stage – Ideal for the sprinters to capture the first leader’s jersey. |
| Stage 2 | Thu, June 18 | Radlje ob Dravi $\rightarrow$ Ormož | 181.8 km | Hilly / Rolling Stage – Runs along the Drava Bike route and concludes with a late climb to Jeruzalem before a fast finish. |
| Stage 3 | Fri, June 19 | Maribor $\rightarrow$ Celje | 133.5 km | Hilly Stage – A challenging mid-week route featuring over 2,000 meters of climbing, finishing near the historic Celje Castle. |
| Stage 4 | Sat, June 20 | Kranj $\rightarrow$ Kranjska Gora | 184.7 km | Mountain Stage (Queen Stage) – The toughest test of the tour, taking the peloton over the iconic Vršič Pass (1,611m), briefly crossing into Italy, and returning via the Predel Pass. |
| Stage 5 | Sun, June 21 | Litija $\rightarrow$ Novo mesto | 169.4 km | Hilly Stage – The traditional grand finale rolling through the scenic Dolenjska wine region to a classic sprint finish in Novo mesto. |
Key Highlights of the 2026 Race
Top Teams Present: The 2026 peloton features elite UCI WorldTeams like Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe and Team Bahrain Victorious, alongside major ProTeams and Slovenian Continental outfits like the Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana.
The Return of Vršič: For the first time in 13 years, the legendary Vršič Pass returns to the Tour of Slovenia during Stage 4, making it the definitive “Queen Stage” where the general classification (GC) will likely be decided.
International Border Crossing: Stage 4 will briefly cross borders into neighboring Italy before climbing the Predel Pass back into Slovenia.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Tour of Slovenia (Dirka po Sloveniji) is the premier professional road cycling stage race in Slovenia. Over its three-decade history, it has evolved from a small regional race celebrating a newly independent nation into a highly prestigious event on the UCI Europe Tour calendar, classified as 2.Pro.
Here is a look at the history, evolution, and defining moments of the Tour of Slovenia.
## The Early Years: Celebrating Independence (1993)
The Tour of Slovenia was born in May 1993, organized by the Novo mesto Cycling Club (Kolesarski klub Adria Mobil). The inaugural race was put together to celebrate and promote the newly independent Republic of Slovenia (which gained independence in 1991).
- The First Winner: Slovenian rider Boris Premužič won the first-ever edition, which consisted of 8 stages.
- National Pride: In its early years, the race served as a major platform for Slovenian riders to test themselves against international competitors and build up the country’s cycling infrastructure.
## UCI Status and Growth
As the race grew in organization and reputation, it steadily climbed the ranks of international cycling:
- 2005: With the introduction of the UCI Europe Tour, the race was categorized as a 2.1 event, attracting higher-tier professional teams.
- 2017: A major turning point occurred when the race secured a global broadcasting deal with Eurosport. This put Slovenia’s scenic landscapes, challenging climbs, and passionate fans on television screens in over 130 countries, transforming it into a major tourism showcase.
- 2020/2021: The race was officially promoted by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to the ProSeries (2.Pro) category, the highest class of professional road racing outside of the UCI WorldTour.
## The Launchpad for Legends
Perhaps the most significant legacy of the Tour of Slovenia is its role in the “Golden Era” of Slovenian cycling. Before they were winning Grand Tours on the world stage, Slovenia’s biggest cycling icons proved their worth on home soil.
- Primož Roglič: Won the Tour of Slovenia overall in 2015 and 2018 right before exploding into a dominant multi-time Grand Tour champion.
- Tadej Pogačar: The generational phenom dominated his home race with back-to-back overall victories in 2021 and 2022 while wearing the Tour de France yellow jersey.
## Historic Statistics & Trivia
- The Five-Time Double Winners: Winning the Tour of Slovenia more than once is an elite feat. Only five riders have managed to win the overall classification twice:
- Mitja Mahorič (Slo) – 2003, 2004
- Jure Golčer (Slo) – 2006, 2008
- Diego Ulissi (Ita) – 2011, 2019
- Primož Roglič (Slo) – 2015, 2018
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo) – 2021, 2022
- The Iron Man: Croatian rider Radoslav Rogina holds the record for the most appearances in the race. He competed a staggering 20 times between 1998 and 2019, even winning the overall race in 2013.
- Distance Extremes: The longest edition of the race took place in 1999, spanning $1,102.5\text{ km}$. By contrast, the shortest edition was in 2013, covering just $503.1\text{ km}$.
- The Spiritual Home: The historic city of Novo mesto is the true heart of the tour. It has hosted the final stage sprint and podium celebration nearly every single year since the race began.
