The tragedy that plagues Tadej Pogacar's family: Cousin, missing and "taken to a cult" by her own mother

Despite having completed the best year in the history of cycling, Tadej Pogacar's life is not all sunshine and rainbows. The world champion's family has been plagued by tragedy. His cousin Julija has been missing for almost three years, with the 13-year-old even added to Interpol's missing person's list.

This was revealed by the uncle of the UAE Team Emirates leader and father of the missing girl, now 13 years old, in statements to Marca. Peter Pogacar directly accuses Julija's mother, Melisa Smrekar, of having kidnapped her and taken her to a cult, as "she is a member of an extremist cult".

That sect was financed by donations, and with leader Lana Praner at its head, fled Slovenia. "We reported the disappearance to the police and together we searched the apartment where Melisa and Julija had lived. We discovered that they had left almost everything behind. Melisa also left her car behind," explains Peter.

Melisa Smrekar's attendance at the cult's sessions began in 2013, and it was common for her to take her daughter with her. Both she and Julija are wanted by Interpol.

About the cult leader, Peter Pogacar says that Lana Praner is "a highly manipulative person who has destroyed many families by convincing her followers to stay away from their closest relatives." He adds: "Julija is 13 years old now. She doesn't go to school, she doesn't even visit the doctor, because the cult her mother belongs to believes that doctors are bad and are there to kill you."

Despite the length of time his daughter has been missing, Peter Pogacar says he will never stop until he gets her home: "Every morning when I wake up, I go to her room to draw another heart on the blackboard. There are 1,088 hearts drawn, one for each missing day."

"Next week it will be three years since her kidnapping. I have only one mission and one wish in my life: to find my daughter and bring her home safe and sound," he concludes.