Grand Prix
Novo mesto

Marko Lekše
Predsednik Kolesarskega kluba Novo mesto

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished sponsors and partners, dear competitors, coaches, judges, volunteers, and esteemed cycling fans, welcome to Novo mesto for the eleventh edition of our traditional spring race – held for the first time under the name the Grand Prix of Novo mesto.

The year 2026 is a milestone for us. Our race is entering a new decade. What started eleven years ago with a vision, courage, and a great deal of voluntary work has grown into an established international event on the Union Cycliste Internationale calendar, category 1.2, for Elite men and Under-23 riders. Together with the Tour of Slovenian Istria, it represents the true opening of the spring season – the first serious test of strength, the first check of form, and the first major ambitions.

Every year we bring top teams from all across Europe to Novo mesto. This year again we expect exceptional competition, aggressive racing, and a battle right up to the final meters. On our roads, tactics, strength, endurance, and courage will intertwine – everything that makes cycling one of the most beautiful and demanding sports.

For our club, this year’s edition is especially symbolic. We are once again competing under the name Cycling Club Novo mesto. Changes in sponsorship mark a new chapter, yet we remain faithful to our foundations. A sincere thank you to all our loyal sponsors and partners who stand by us and make it possible for the club to develop steadily and for the event to be organized at such a high level.

We are particularly proud of the composition of this year’s elite team. The core of the squad consists of homegrown riders who rode their first competitive kilometres in our cycling school and grew with us through all the categories.

The team is further strengthened by riders from other environments – including a competitor from Slovakia and cyclists from Idrija – who recognized in our club an ambitious and development-oriented environment.

This combination of local knowledge and wider connections proves that we are able to create an environment that attracts, connects, and develops talent. We are proud to have become a club where local identity, international openness, and a shared desire for progress come together.

So let us cheer for the entire team – loudly, wholeheartedly, and with pride.

Our cycling school remains the foundation of the club’s work.
Across all categories we have talented and successful riders who compete for the top places both at home and abroad.
That is why, again this year, alongside the Grand Prix of Novo mesto, we are organizing a children’s race on the Main Square – a celebration of sport, joy, courage, and first competitive experiences, where every child who steps to the start line and completes their lap is already a winner. In this way, we are building the future of Slovenian cycling.

An event of this scale would not be possible without the people working behind the scenes. Thank you to the organizing committee for your professionalism and dedication. Thank you to the Slovenian police for ensuring safety. Thank you to the many volunteers who, with your energy and precision, make sure every detail runs smoothly. And thank you to the local community and all residents for your understanding and support.

The Grand Prix of Novo mesto is not only a sporting event.
It is a celebration of community.
It is a story of cooperation.
It reflects the values we live by in our club: teamwork, respect, fairness, trust, a healthy lifestyle, competitiveness, environmental awareness, and dedication to a shared goal.

Let Novo mesto breathe with cycling during the Grand Prix.
Let us feel the energy along the course that connects generations. And let the riders feel that they are racing in front of an audience that understands and appreciates their effort.

Thank you for being part of this story.
Thank you for your support and your heartfelt cheering for all the competitors – especially for our home riders.

MAY THE BEST RIDER WINI.
MAY SPORT WIN!

And may the Grand Prix of Novo mesto confidently ride into its new decade.

.

Gregor Macedoni
Mayor of the City Municipality of Novo Mesto

Dear friends and supporters of cycling sport,

Novo mesto has a remarkable cycling tradition - a legacy we are rightfully proud of and one that has formed a solid foundation for developing our sports strategy in the Municipality of Novo mesto. Today, this strategy has helped our city become recognized as the Slovenian capital of cycling. This prominence and popularity are rooted, on the one hand, in the remarkable achievements of Slovenian cyclists, who have sparked a true cycling renaissance in our country, and on the other hand, in the outstanding contributions of the Novo mesto Cycling Club. It is one of the most successful cycling clubs in Slovenia in terms of results, the organizer of the country’s largest cycling events, and—most importantly—over decades, it has grown into a well-known breeding ground for cycling talents. The educational role that the Novo mesto Cycling Club fulfills as part of its mission is of exceptional importance and is, in my view, one of the club’s greatest strengths.

Although the Grand Prix of Novo mesto is a new name on the Slovenian cycling scene, it is a well-established race and event. Together with the Grand Prix of the Municipality of Piran and the Grand Prix of Slovenian Istria, it forms part of the so called Slovenian Spring Classics.

The race route remains unchanged, connecting the regions of Dolenjska and Bela krajina into a cycling ribbon. Its varied terrain will once again demand top-level readiness from both individual riders and teams aiming for the highest placements. As in previous years, we expect a diverse international lineup, promising another fierce battle for the final victory— likely to be decided, once again, on the iconic granite cobblestones of Novo mesto’s Glavni trg.

I wish all cyclists strong legs and that always essential touch of sporting luck needed for an outstanding result.

SEE YOU IN NOVO MESTO!