25.06.2014

National championships will be a real treat for the cycling fans

National championships will be a real treat for the cycling fans
Last Sunday in June is reserved for national road championships all around Europe. Slovenian champs will again take place in Gabrje, under the organization of cycling club Papež Podgorje. National title has a big value, which means competition will be strong. Adria Mobil will race with the whole team.

There are not many sports where national champion title is as valued as it is in cycling. All biggest stars compete for the prestigious national champ jersey, which is then worn for the period of one year. National championships also have big value in Slovenia.

On Sunday the youth categories will go on stage first. Adria Mobil will defend two titles in the junior categories. At 2:45p.m. the big race will start – with elite men and men under 23. They will do 15 laps with the cumulative distance of 165 km. About 50 riders are expected on the start. Adria Mobil riders will compete against all the best Slovenian teams and most top riders that ride for foreign professional teams. The best are expected in Gabrje: Simon Špilak (Katusha), Grega Bole (Vini Fantini-Nippo), Borut Božič, Jani Brajkovič (both Astana), Kristijan Koren, Matej Mohorič (both Cannondale Pro Cycling), Marko Kump (Tinkoff-Saxo), Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano), Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida), Blaž Jarc (NetApp-Endura), Aldo Ino Ilešič (UnitedHealthcare), Jure Kocjan (Team SmartStop), Jure Golčer, Matej Marin (both Gourmetfein Simplon Wels), Jan Tratnik, Andi Bajc, Dejan Bajt (all Amplatz-BMC), Gregor Gazvoda (Gebruder Weiss-Oberndorfer) & Robert Jenko and Blaž Furdi (both Meridiana Kamen).

Adria Mobil will race with all riders, the only one that will be next to the road is Tomaž Nose; he is still absent from racing due to the injury. Domen Novak, defending champion, and David Per will contend the U23 category. Matej Mugerli, Klemen Štimulak, Aljaž Hočevar, Primož Roglič and Kristjan Fajt will aim for the elite men title.

Team manager Boštjan Mervar: “We are ahead of very hard and tactical race. We have the strongest team on this championships, but we have amazing individuals against us, riders like Mezgec, Špilak, Bole and others are in the very top of the game. It’s about time to win national championships again, but a lot of things will have to go right to do that.”

Srečko Glivar
Photos by Vid Ponikvar (NC Gabrje 2013)

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