Tour of Slovenia 2026 – Stage 1 [FULL STAGE]

June 17, 2026

32nd Tour of Slovenia 2026 🇸🇮 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Velenje – Rogaška Slatina : 141,3 km

Tour of Slovenia is a UCI 2.Pro classification stage race that winds through the diverse and dramatic landscapes of Slovenia, where the roads alternate between rolling hills, steep mountain passes, and fast, technical descents. The terrain is a mix of long, sustained climbs and short, explosive ascents, with gradients often reaching 8–14% on narrow, winding roads that cut through dense forests, alpine meadows, and picturesque valleys. The climbs are irregular, featuring steep ramps, exposed sections, and technical switchbacks, while the descents are fast and demanding, with sharp corners and uneven surfaces that test a rider’s skill and composure. The race dynamics are shaped by the constant changes in elevation and the tactical opportunities they present, with attacks frequently launching on the steepest sections or during the high-altitude stages, where the peloton thins to a select group of climbers. The flatter stages are rarely straightforward, often featuring crosswinds or punchy hills that disrupt the rhythm and create opportunities for breakaways. The sprint finishes are fast and technical, contested on wide roads or slightly uphill drags that reward power and positioning. The final kilometers of each stage often feature a decisive climb, a technical descent, or a fast run-in through a historic town or along a scenic valley, where the outcome is determined by endurance, tactical awareness, and the ability to respond to sudden changes in pace. The Tour of Slovenia delivers a challenging and unpredictable parcours, showcasing the beauty and rigor of racing in one of Europe’s most stunning regions.

Laurence Pithie sprinted to a resounding victory on the opening day of the Tour of Slovenia in a 1-2 finish for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

The New Zealander opened up such a big gap on his rivals in the final dash to the line that his own lead-out man, Arne Marit, was able to continue sprinting into that space to celebrate in his wake.

Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) clinched the final spot on the podium but he was multiple bike lengths behind even Marit, in what was a dominant display from the Red Bull team.

The opening stage of the five-stage race measured 141km between Velenje and Rogaśka Slatina, with some lumpy terrain that reduced the peloton to around 40 riders by the finish.

Red Bull-Bora-Hasgrohe had six of their seven riders in there for the run-in, which they dominated, but nearly lost control of in the final kilometre.

It was a lead-out in two parts, as GC riders Florian Lipowitz and Giulio Pellizzari led the way in the final 2km, while Pithie followed Marit several positions further down the bunch, the train having been interrupted.

There was a moment of panic inside the final kilometre when riders flicked out and Marit had to swerve to avoid crashing. However, Belgian played a blinder in spotting space on the left-hand side of the road, moving up and into it. A quick check over the shoulder and Pithie was indeed latching onto it, and from their the legs did the talking.

Pithie emerged from the slipstream with around 150 metres to go and stormed clear to celebrate his fifth win in the past month.

Pithie pulls on the leader’s jersey as the first overall GC leader of the Tour of Slovenia.

Results :