STA, 23 May 2021 - The famous road cycling race Giro d'Italia is returning to Slovenia after 17 years, as Sunday's 15th stage from Grado to Gorizia will also make a turn to Slovenia's picturesque wine-growing region of Brda and the city of Nova Gorica.
This is the sixth time that the Grand Tour race will pass through Slovenia, after 1922, 1971, 1994, 2001 and 2004.
The 15th stage from Grado to Gorizia is 147 kilometres long, 40 kilometres of which will go through Slovenia, including three passes over the steep, 2-km long Gornje Cerovo climb.
This will be followed by a succession of tough climbs and descents and after the third lap, the route passes through Nova Gorica and finishes on the other side of the border in the Italian town of Gorizia.
Map: www.giroditalia.it
Jan Tratnik will be the only Slovenian rider fighting for what would be the ninth stage win for the country in the history of Giro, after his teammate Matej Mohorič suffered a nasty fall and is out of the race.
The 31-year-old said that the most important will be to choose the right time for a breakaway. "I'll do my best, because I don't want to have any regrets after I cross the finish line."
Apart from numerous activities along the route, spectators will be allowed to watch the race from the sidelines, but there will be no organised arrivals.
