Slovenia to host 2026 European Road Cycling Championships

Slovenia has been named the host of the 2026 European Road Cycling Championships, the first time the country stages a major international road cycling championship and a fitting milestone for a nation that has become a cycling powerhouse due to generational talents such as Tadej Pogačar.

The 2026 edition of the competition, known officially as the UEC Road European Championships, will take place in Ljubljana from 3 to 7 October, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The announcement comes just weeks after the Slovenian Cycling Federation, with full backing from the government, formally submitted its bid.

At the time, officials emphasized that hosting one of Europe's most prestigious cycling events would provide an exceptional opportunity to showcase not only sport but also Slovenia's tourism and global profile.

"It is one of the biggest cycling events in Europe, bringing together the best European riders, fans and media attention," the government said.

The 2026 edition will feature a new schedule format, with the road races taking place before the time trials.

First held in 1995, the European Championships initially focused on juniors and U23 riders. Only in 2016 were elite races introduced, transforming the event into a showcase for some of the world's biggest names.

Golden era of Slovenian cycling

Slovenia has been enjoying a golden era of cycling in recent years as several of its riders such as Primož Roglič and Matej Mohorič have made a name for themselves.

But the one who has been most dominant and credited with turning Slovenia into a cycling powerhouse is Pogačar, who recently defended the road race world title.

He is currently the best rider in the world and already one of the all-time greats due to his versatility and incredible palmares, which includes four Tour de France titles.

Slovenia has not yet won a medal in the elite men's road race at the European Championships. At the end of this week Pogačar will aim to fix that in France and he will likely target a home championship in 2026 too.

The announcement of the 2026 host comes after Slovenia's decision to vie for hosting the opening stages of the Tour de France, an event known as the Grand Depart, in 2029.