‘This one was for Gino’

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Team Bahrain Victorious rider Matej Mohoric won an emotionally charged final day at the 2023 Tour of Slovenia yesterday. Mohoric crossed the finish line in the southeastern city of Novo Mesto with tears in his eyes, smiled, and pointed to the sky in honour of the Late Gino Mader, his Bahrain Victorious teammate who tragically passed away on Friday following a very serious crash during stage five of the Tour de Suisse.

“This one is inspired by Gino, and for Gino,” Mohoric said. The Slovenian completed the 142.6-kilometre, fifth and last stage yesterday in a total time of three hours seven minutes and 49 seconds, finishing ahead of Filippo Zana and Luka Mezgec, both of Team Jayco-AlUla, who rounded out the top three.

Towards the end of the race, Zana had no answer for Mohoric’s superiority over the last few hundred metres of cobbles.

“I knew that today’s course suited me, and in the finale, I was so focused,” Mohoric said. “I wanted to win so badly; I just wanted the stage win, I certainly wasn’t thinking about the GC [general classification]. “For me—to get the first one on the board this season, and above all, for Gino. It was a little bit emotional today for what happened this week, but I wanted to give it all on the road. Everything went as planned.”

Mohoric was classified at the end of the Tour of Slovenia second overall on the GC. His stage win was his first triumph of the season.

Amongst Bahrain Victorious’ other riders, Wouter Poels claimed a place in the final stage’s top 20 in 20th, while Nicolo Buratti was 54th, Phil Bauhaus 96th, Dusan Rajovic 97th and Cameron Scott 106th from nearly 120 competitors.

This year’s Tour of Slovenia was the 29th edition of the fivestage race.

It is a part of the UCI ProSeries, featuring some of the top teams and riders in the world.