“At first the gap was about 30 seconds, then it hovered around a minute,” Murn explained. “On a 200-kilometre course with so many top riders, you can never relax. We had people stationed around the circuit, taking our own time checks, because the official boards were consistently showing five to seven seconds less than the actual gaps. That was crucial. Tadej needed exact information – and we gave it to him.”
“They left their hearts on the road for Tadej”
While the headlines rightly belong to Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia’s European title was the product of a well-drilled team that blended star power with grit — and delivered when it mattered most.
“With tears in my eyes, I say this: these lads gave everything,” Murn said. “They’re from the third tier of professional cycling, but they rode with a world-class mentality. One hundred percent commitment. They left their hearts on the road for Tadej.”
Riders like Mihael Štajnar, Tilen Finkšt, Anže Skok, and Jaka Primožič played crucial team roles — whether chasing, controlling, or simply sacrificing themselves to keep Slovenia’s leader well-positioned before his decisive move. “Each rider did exactly what was needed,” Murn added. “You can’t ask for more than that.”
The Slovenian team lines up pre-race
“He doesn’t go full gas – he rides with precision”
As the race approached the third ascent of the brutal Côte de Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, the moment of truth arrived. With 75km to go, Pogacar attacked – distancing Evenepoel and setting off alone into the final third of the race.
From the outside, it looked like another typical Pogacar masterclass. But Murn says the effort was far from automatic. “We have to understand how Tadej rides,” he explained. “On the flats, he controls himself – never goes full gas. He just holds the tempo. But on the climbs, he rides with precise, hard intervals. The course suited him: 400 metres of steep ramp, followed by 1600 metres of drag. That’s where he took time every lap. It was all under control – but it wasn’t easy.”
Throughout the final circuits, Slovenian staff provided real-time updates on the status of the chase group behind – whether they were working together, which riders were fading, and even how fresh they looked based on facial expressions. “Tadej had to know exactly where he stood – we were brutally honest,” Murn said. “He needed to know if they were rotating, if someone was sitting on, or if they were cracking. That gave him the confidence to pace it to the end.”
A solo win, but a team victory
While Pogacar crossed the line alone – arms raised, the new European champion – Murn was quick to reiterate that the victory belonged to the entire Slovenian setup. “Tadej finished it, yes – but we all built it,” Murn said. “From the riders on the road to the staff taking time splits – everyone did their job. The fact that we won with this kind of team makes it even more special.”
Looking ahead, Murn’s focus is already turning to next season. He will lead the Slovenian elite men’s team through to the end of the 2028 Olympic cycle, but the immediate priority is next year’s European Championships – where Ljubljana will host the continent’s best riders, and Pogacar has already committed to defending his title on home soil.
“We’ve made history here – the first gold medal for Slovenia at the European Championships,” Murn concluded. “Now we look ahead. We’ll be ready.”