WorldTour
The road to Barcelona runs through Slovenia
On Wednesday, the five-day Tour of Slovenia gets underway. For Florian Lipowitz, it means 800 race kilometers between two training camps – the final phase of his Tour de France preparation.
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Until the weekend, Florian Lipowitz was still training in Spain’s Sierra Nevada. The 25-year-old spent more than three weeks at an altitude of 2,500 meters in southern Spain. The intensive training camp forms the foundation for July, when the Tour de France – the highlight of the season – begins.
Now, straight from the Spanish mountains, he heads to the start line of the Tour of Slovenia – a carefully selected component of his Tour preparation. The race was chosen to provide one final competitive stimulus after weeks of training. But it is a stimulus delivered in a calmer environment, away from the pressure and intensity of the Tour de France, which will arrive soon enough.
Florian Lipowitz
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
We chose Slovenia because we want to arrive at the Tour physically and mentally fresher
“We expect this race to be a bit more relaxed, without excessive expectations and without too much stress. Compared to other stage races in June, which often feature very long and demanding stages, Slovenia offers a better opportunity to recover in time for the Tour. We chose Slovenia because we want to arrive at the Tour physically and mentally fresher,” says Florian Lipowitz.
Florian Lipowitz: The Quiet Racer
The final climbing test before the Tour
From a sporting perspective, the Slovenian climbs are the main focus. The Tour of Slovenia begins with shorter, explosive ascents, followed by more steady climbs in the middle of the race. The highlight comes on Stage 4 with the ascent of the Vršič Pass. At 1,611 meters, it is Slovenia’s highest mountain pass and the highest point of the race.
Giulio Pellizzari and Ben Zwiehoff recently demonstrated their climbing form at the Giro d’Italia, where they helped Jai Hindley secure another Grand Tour podium for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. After two weeks away from racing, both riders now return to the peloton alongside Florian Lipowitz.
Sprinters, comebacks, and a home race
Laurence Pithie and Arne Marit have had a shorter recovery period. Both riders recently completed a demanding four-week racing block, during which the New Zealander enjoyed remarkable success: victory at Rund um Köln, the overall and stage win at the Four Days of Dunkirk, a stage victory at the Tour de Wallonie, and a win at the Brussels Cycling Classic together with Jordi Meeus.
However, success was accompanied by setbacks. Laurence crashed in the finale of the Tour de Wallonie, while Arne had already gone down two days earlier. For both riders, the sprint stages in Slovenia will serve as an important form test before the summer break.
Alongside Arne Marit, Matteo Cattaneo arrives directly from Copenhagen. Together with local hero Jan Tratnik, they complete the squad. Both experienced riders play a crucial role as road captains. For Tratnik, Wednesday also marks a return to his home race: for the first time in several years, he will once again line up at the start of the Tour of Slovenia.
Tour of Slovenia
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