In August 2023, Slovenia suffered huge floods that affected two-thirds of the complete nation. At the very least seven individuals died, with property injury amounting to billions of euros.
Because the European nation struggles to rebuild, it should get a bit of assist from a homegrown hero: biking star Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian highway bicycle owner — affectionately generally known as “Pogi” to his followers — has dominated the game this 12 months. He’s now within the elite membership of racers who’ve received each the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France (he received each this season), the place the younger phenom logged a dozen stage wins in 2024.
Now, Pogačar will use his fame and fortune to assist his many fellow Slovenians impacted by the tragic flooding final 12 months. In an Instagram publish final month, Pogačar stated his charity group, the Tadej Pogačar Basis, would start accepting proposals from these in want.
“That is my dream now after biking — to assist individuals,” Pogačar stated on Instagram.
Pogačar: ‘No Secret That I’ve Made a Lot of Cash’
The 25-year-old bicycle owner has rapidly carved a reputation for himself within the historical past of the game. He has received the Tour de France 3 times, the Tour d’Italia in 2024, and 6 of the long-lasting Monument races. His racing vita has grow to be so spectacular that many biking followers now place him among the many biggest in historical past, like Eddie Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
However in a deeply private message posted to the Tadej Pogačar Basis Instagram web page, Pogačar expressed discomfort with the cash he’s earned via these biking successes. That’s why he dedicates a few of that fortune to serving to others.
“It’s no secret that I’ve made some huge cash from biking in the previous couple of years,” he stated within the above video. “My nice need is to assist. We’re beginning the 12 months after the devastating floods by amassing requests from flood-affected households.”
EuroNews reported that final 12 months’s floods affected practically everybody in Slovenia. Actually, 183 of 212 municipalities had been impacted, because the nation noticed 63% extra rainfall than common.
Based on the European information outlet, the worsening flood problem is one other symptom of local weather change. Consequently, the Slovenian authorities is at the moment working to construct extra levees and different infrastructure to enhance its resilience to future floods.
Pogačar isn’t the primary Slovenian athlete to boost cash for flood victims, nonetheless. Final 12 months, aggressive climbing GOAT Janja Garnbret donated all of the prize cash from a World Cup win to these affected by the tragedy. Different Slovenian athletes have helped as effectively, Slovenia.si reported.
