Matej Mohoric He started again with the seriousness that characterizes him, especially now that he is the head of a Foundation. From what we saw on the computer screen, in the press conference called by the Bahrain VictoriousThe Slovenian already looks thin. In our eyes, he could be wearing a number tomorrow.
And all in all we weren't too wrong since the U23 world champion from Florence 2013 will start competing soon, at the Valenciana, and will set the spring classics as his first objectives: From Flanders to Liège, via Roubaix. Not the Giro, but the Tour.
Mohoric and the Foundation
But there is another aspect that interests us a lot about Mohoric and that is the Matej Mohoric Foundation which the rider himself presented just a few days ago. Matej has always been a serious and thoughtful guy, but after this initiative we discovered that he also has a lot of depth.
«The main goal of this Foundation – says Mohoric – is to help develop cycling among young people in Slovenia. Will work closely contact with the Slovenian Cycling Federation, which in turn supports the project.
«I would like to help the boys with my knowledge and experience, be close to them at the training camps organized by the Slovenian national team, and provide financial support. I would like these kids to have the same opportunities that they have in other European national teams."
Promotion and performance
The most interested category is the juniors, the first international one, but we also want to reach out to small local teams, perhaps creating new ones.
«With the Slovenian federation and some clubs – explains Matej – We will look for boys and girls who want to take up cycling, but who in reality can't or can't afford it. We will provide equipment and promote cycling as a healthy and recreational lifestyle. We will try to bring this sport closer to local communities and educate children and young people that cycling can be a healthy lifestyle.
The Mohoric Foundation has two main objectives: to promote, especially among younger players, and to help those who are already considered for the national team to develop properly.
One goal is to organize more competitions. Perhaps even small events for children in collaboration with local clubs. This is especially important for the younger ones, for categories up to age 17. And for the older ones, to help them develop properly. Over the last two years, there's been a tendency for cycling to become less and less "easy." We'd like to reverse this trend. Bring back cycling's old values.
Slovenian evolution
A long-term, collaborative project, therefore. Some help had already been given to the Ljubljana team and Mohoric himself supported the small club in which he had blossomed. And evidently the work was progressing well, given that from such a limited pool emerged riders of the calibre of Matej himself, but also of pogacar, Roglic, Without to forget Tratnik o Polish… Well, not bad for one. It was founded in 1991 and has 2,1 million inhabitants. inhabitants (Lombardy alone, the most populous region in Italy, has almost 10, to give you an idea...).
But how much difference is there between Slovenian youth cycling today and Mohoric's? "I think," Mohoric concludes, "it's definitely changed, but more generally, society has changed. The clubs have more money now, but they're certainly not yet 'well-off.'
"The movement is more structured. Today you have to work more specifically and harder than in my day. I wouldn't do it, not many of us have done it. Nowadays, however, it's quite normal, there are many pros who are 19 or 21 years old, so it's important to help them grow and pass on our experiences. Training knowledge is more accessible, everyone trains well."
