The next Pogacar heads to Bahrain after impressive first year in the under-23 category

At 19 years old, Slovenian Jakob Omrzel has achieved a dizzying rise that has surprised many in the cycling world. Although he was initially planned to remain with the under-23 team until 2026, his impressive performances in 2025 have accelerated his progress and allowed him to make the expected jump to the WorldTour ahead of schedule.

Omrzel had already begun to shine in the professional peloton, competing with the Bahrain Victorious WorldTour team in a number of high-level events. Among the most notable competitions in which he made his mark was his fourth place at the national Tour of Slovenia where he matched up against some well-known GC riders at the level, including a former Giro winner Tao Geoghegan Hart.

However, the highlight of his season came in the under-23 category, where Omrzel established himself as one of the most promising cyclists of the moment. At the Giro Next Gen, one of the most important events on the under-23 calendar, Jakob was crowned overall champion, taking the pink jersey on the final stage, as well as two podium finishes in the days leading up to it.

His performance also earned him the title of national champion in Slovenia, winning the elite road race, where he left behind both under-23 and elite category rivals.

Most recently, Omrzel celebrated his first victory in a one-day classic for under-23 riders at the prestigious GP Capodarco and also took two second places at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, where only another supertalent Jarno Widar stood in his way.

Omrzel's talent is nothing new. Already in his junior career, the Slovenian made it clear that he had a promising future by winning the Paris-Roubaix Juniors in 2024 with the Slovenian national team. However there were some doubts about his first year in the under-23 category after a near-death situation at the Giro della Lunigiana towards the end of last year saw everyone fear for the young rider's life.

But Omrzel quickly proved to be more than back on his former trajectory early into the 2025 season and now, at only 19 years old, he is ready to take the final leap - move up to WorldTour. Before that, we can look forward to seeing the Slovenian represent his country at the under-23 World Championships in Rwanda, where he could join more famous compatriot Tadej Pogacar in the rainbow jersey.

In his first statements as a professional cyclist, Omrzel did not hide his excitement for this achievement and what it represents for his career: "Without a doubt, the great dream of every young cyclist is to one day become a professional rider, and I was no exception. Having the opportunity to take that step after only my first season in the under-23 category is something indescribable for me. As a young cyclist, hoping to have a long career ahead of me, it is essential to be surrounded by such a strong team that not only teaches me to improve as a cyclist, but also to grow as a person."

"This year, I had the opportunity to experience the professional level in some races and that only gave me more motivation and hunger for the future. With the Bahrain Victorious development team, I gained a lot of experience and saw this sport from a new perspective. Joining this team was undoubtedly the best decision I made. Teamwork has been key to the results we have achieved."

Looking ahead to next season, Omrzel is clear about his goals: "My goals for the future are not only to achieve good results in high-level races, but also to keep improving both as a cyclist and as a person. If I continue to show my dedication and commitment to the team, I know I will have more opportunities to achieve good results and, who knows, maybe one day fight for a podium in a Grand Tour."