Profiles. From the 14th to the 18th of June takes place the
Tour of Slovenia, a race that has in recent years gained notoriety because of the nation's stars, and one that is now more often used as preparation for the Tour de France.
The five-day race consists of a clear queen stage on the fourth day and four days that could both end in a sprint or a late attack - or breakaway, of course. There will be a few fast men aiming for victories here, but no sprint stage is truly pan-flat, all will have little challenges. Stages 1 and 2 should suit them better however, whilst stages 3 and 5 better fit the classics riders.
Stage 1: Celje - Rogaska Slatina, 188.6 kilometers
Stage 1 of the race sees the riders head into Rogaska Slatina, a day that should be for the sprinters however it features quite a lot of rolling hills throughout the day.
Stage 2: Zalec - Ormoz, 163.7 kilometers
The best suited day for the sprinters. Stage 2 of the Tour of Slovenia sees the riders race from Zalec and Ormoz throughout 163 kilometers, not a pan-flat day, but the small ascents that come close to the finish shouldn't be enough to disrupt a bunch sprint.
Stage 3: Grosuplje - Postojna, 174.8 kilometers
Stage 3 could open the overall classification. There will be a rather long ascent early in the day however it shouldn't be decisive to the outcome of the day. It'll be in Postojna that the stage will be decided, there is a decently tough hill just inside the final 15 kilometers that could split things up, a very open finale.
Stage 4: Ljubljana - Kobarid, 166.5 kilometers
The queen stage, very clearly and quite a difficult one. The race has been here quite a lot in the past, this year it'll be ridden twice the ascent to Kolovrat. It's 10.1 kilometers long at 8.9% and the riders will have to go up it twice before reaching the finish in Kobarid.
Stage 5: Vrhnika - Novo Mesto
The final day of the race is the best suited to a breakaway, with big gaps in the overall classification created many will have freedom and the climbing start to the day should see many trying. Whether they succeed or not the stage could see it's decision in the climb to Trska Gora which is 1.7 kilometers at 9.8%, which will also serve as a last spot to attack the overall classification.