Primož Roglič is the best Slovenian in the Tour de France

In the summer many people like cycling. If, of course, it is sunny, not too hot and not too far.

Every year in July the best professional riders are also cycling. For three weeks they race across France, whether it’s sunny or too hot. And in doing so they cover very many kilometres.

The Tour de France, as the race is called, is the world’s best known road biking race. Only the best prepared cyclists participate in it. They all go to France with their teams that take care of them and their bikes.

At each stage of the race the competitors travel about 200 kilometres, covering very diverse terrain. Sometimes they cycle for more than five hours a day.

Each stage is a competition in itself, and the time needed for all the stages in added up to find the final winner.

The best Slovenian, Primož Roglič, who rides for the Dutch team LotoNL-Jumbo, impressed the fans last Friday as he was again the fastest in one stage. This time he beat the others in the Pyrenees.

At the ceremony he made a telemark on the podium, so the fans were reminded that he was once a ski jumper.

In overall result of the competition he was more successful than ever. Although on Friday it looked like he could even be third, on Sunday Primož ended in fourth place in Paris.

This is the best Slovenian result in the history of the race. Previously the best placing was 9th place for Jani Brajkovič and Tadej Valjavec.

Primož says that he is not disappointed, and emphasizes that he fought from start to finish.

Some Primož fans are already preparing their reception for his arrival in Slovenia. We will have to wait for him a bit longer, as Primož is still waiting for another cycling competition this week.

Points to Consider

1. How many kilometres a day can you do while riding a bike?
2. How persistant are you when riding the bike uphill?
3. Why do you think it is only fair to prepare a ceremony for successful sportspeople after they return home?

***

The original version of this article was published on July 30th.

English translation courtesy of JL Flanner, Total Slovenia News, an English language website with news from and about Slovenia.