Hundreds of Slovenes have stormed into the Alps in recent days to support Roglic and Pogacar.

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MOURAD ALLILI / SIPA

  • Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Slovenian supporters have arrived in greater numbers than ever to follow the last week of this Tour de France.

  • A dynamic logically created by the presence on the podium of the yellow jersey Primoz Roglic and its runner-up Tadej Pogacar, both Slovenes.

  • Most of them arrived for the alpine stages, these cycling enthusiasts are “so proud” to see their compatriots at the top of this Grande Boucle.

From our special correspondent at the Col de la Loze and La Roche-sur-Foron,

In the Alpine summits of the Tour de France, the unmistakable Breton flags have seen unexpected competitors land en masse this week.

A small Balkan republic of two million inhabitants, which is much less than Brittany alone, Slovenia has a good number of sports enthusiasts.

How could it be otherwise for a country currently boasting the best European basketball player, Dallas star Luka Doncic (21), as well as the two best runners in the Grande Boucle, Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar?

Here Thursday in La Roche-sur-Foron, Robert travels 70 km every day on the Tour routes before witnessing the finish of the race.

- Jérémy Laugier / 20 Minutes

Placed Thursday at a hundred meters from the finish line in La Roche-sur-Foron (Haute-Savoie), Robert (47 years old) intends to take advantage of the Champs-Elysées on Sunday of this Great Loop ready to dedicate a Slovenian for the first time in its history.

"With three friends, we decided on a whim to come by car to attend the stages in the Alps," he says.

We are so proud to see Slovenians shine like this, especially since cycling is almost as popular as football and basketball here.

"

"The hour of Pogacar will come quietly"

Originally from Maribor (sorry for the painful reference, Lyonnais friends), Robert takes advantage of this first stay in France to survey 70 km by bike every day in order to reach the finishings of stages to support with passion his two compatriots, almost guaranteed to finish on the first two steps of the podium Sunday in Paris.

Do the hundreds of Slovenian supporters present in France have a preference between their two champions?

“That the best wins, quite simply, summarizes Robert.

In Slovenia, we still tell ourselves that Tadej Pogacar is only 21 years old and that his time will come slowly.

"

Saso, Mitja, Gregor, Tomasz and Jani enjoyed themselves Wednesday in the ascent of the Loze pass.

- Jérémy Laugier / 20 Minutes

"Roglic has the most incredible story of all time"

The day before, in the heart of the Loze pass (Savoie), a group of five Slovenians went there with their slightly chauvinistic predictions: “Roglic (30 years old) will win three times in a row on the Tour then you will be entitled to eight years of Pogacar ”.

Among them, Jani shows us on her phone, laughing, a photo of the current yellow jersey of the Grande Boucle, here in 2012 in amateur cycling mode… with a beautiful FDJ outfit.

“Roglic has the most incredible history of all time in the world of cycling,” says Gregor beside him.

Because this good Primoz has been known to Slovenians since his previous life, that of a high level ski jumper.

In La Roche-sur-Foron, Robert tells us that he had followed on television, in 2007, his spectacular fall from the springboard, with concussion and a broken nose.

How Primoz Roglic Learned Everything About Cycling In Just Five Years https://t.co/7gm3DZ0aZe

- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) September 11, 2020

Slovenian flags "give me extra strength"

"Sometimes I see Primoz overtake me at full speed in my bike rides in the Julian Alps," smiles the supporter, proud to wear a Jumbo-Visma jersey.

He willingly stops to talk, he's a simple guy, and everyone knows each other in our little country.

"Three days before his biggest career victory, after the Vuelta last year, the placid Primoz Roglic spoke on Wednesday about the growing popular fervor of the Slovenian people:" It's so crazy to see so many Slovenian flags all day long. along the roads.

It gives me extra strength.

"

Mitja, whom we met in the Loze pass, assures us: "If there were no coronavirus, there would be 5,000 Slovenes on the Tour to celebrate Roglic's victory on Sunday".

You have three days left to work on your interpretation of

S tabo je Slovenija

(understand “Slovenia is with you”), a rock anthem dedicated to Primoz Roglic.

By then, the yellow jersey may have become as fun as its fans, who knows ...

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