Tadej Pogacar foundation pledges €100,000 after storm devastates hometown as Milano-Sanremo shoes go to auction

The Tadej Pogacar Foundation has pledged €100,000 to help families affected by the severe storm that hit the Slovenian star’s hometown of Komenda earlier this month.

The storm caused major damage across the municipality, with more than 150 homes and buildings damaged and many families left facing the aftermath overnight. Komenda, where Pogacar grew up, was among the worst-hit areas, with roofs, roads, trees, farmland and parts of the local electricity network affected.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the Tadej Pogacar Foundation confirmed that the first round of support will be directed to the Municipality of Komenda, which will distribute the funds to the families most affected.

“In early June, a devastating storm struck Tadej’s hometown of Komenda, leaving more than 150 homes and buildings damaged and changing the lives of many families overnight,” the Foundation wrote. “The Tadej Pogacar Foundation is committed to helping the community recover.”

The €100,000 donation is only the first part of the Foundation’s response. Pogacar’s race-worn shoes from his victory at Milano-Sanremo will also be auctioned, with all proceeds going towards families affected by the storm.

Pogacar won Milano-Sanremo earlier this season after finally breaking through in one of the races that had repeatedly eluded him. The shoes from that victory will now be tied to the recovery effort in Komenda, alongside money raised through the Pogi Challenge event.

“In the first round of support, the Foundation will donate €100,000 to the Municipality of Komenda, which will distribute the funds to the families most affected by the storm,” the statement continued. “Our support doesn’t stop there. All proceeds from the auction of Tadej’s Milano-Sanremo race-worn shoes, together with every donation collected during the Pogi Challenge event, will also go directly towards helping affected families.”

The pledge comes just days before Pogacar begins his latest Tour de France campaign, but the Foundation’s message was focused on the recovery effort in Komenda rather than the racing calendar.

Local and national authorities have been involved in the response after the storm left visible damage across the area. The Foundation’s initial €100,000 donation will now be followed by further fundraising through the auction and Pogi Challenge donations, giving supporters another way to contribute as Komenda continues its recovery.