Victory at the POGI Challenge
Alice Riebler wins the women's race at the POGI Challenge. Komenda, Slovenia: a criterium in front of a huge crowd in Tadej Pogacar's home town.
The second edition of the POGI Challenge in Komenda was everything a criterium should be: packed streets, a crowd that turned the town into a cycling arena, and a race that stayed open until the final lap. Right in the middle of it, our rider Alice Riebler, who took the biggest result of her season so far in Slovenia.
The women's race ran over 21 laps and turned into a duel on a knife edge. Alice and Slovenia's Anet Trakonja were level on points after all the intermediate sprints, and the challenge was only decided right at the end. The final sprint made the difference, and Alice took it. That was also down to us having two riders on the start line: Sophia Schlagenhaufen shaped the race tactically and finished sixth herself.
In the men's race the win went to the local hero, as expected. Tadej Pogacar took the criterium over 35 laps with 22 points, ahead of his former teammate Matteo Trentin, European champion in 2018 and a stage winner at the Tour, the Giro and the Vuelta. The crowd that came to Komenda for him watched the women's race too.
At the podium ceremony the winners of both races stood side by side on stage. For Alice, 25 years old and a sports science student, the winners' photo together with the five-time Tour de France champion was almost as good as the win itself. A moment you do not get every summer as a young rider.
We are delighted with this result. A win abroad, against a strong field, decided in the last sprint: this is exactly what we work for.
Women: 1. Alice Riebler, 2. Anet Trakonja (SLO), 3. Nina Pugelj (SLO), 6. Sophia Schlagenhaufen.
Men: 1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO), 2. Matteo Trentin (ITA), 3. Luka Mezgec (SLO).