In the season of 2021, the team will be officially named Pogi Team UAE Generali – 150 cyclists / 7 coaches / 7 races, which are organised by Pogi Team – The best cycling academy in the region and wider – New president of KD Rog is Andrej Hauptman

Tadej Pogačar, two times Tour de France winner and a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, founded the Pogi Team, a children’s and junior team of over 150 young cyclists, within the Rog Cycling Association a little over a year ago.

“I’m really happy that the UAE has offered to help and sponsor Pogi Team, where it has now become one of the main sponsors. I am very happy that we have more and more sponsors. Now we can develop a club that is growing, so we can offer better conditions and facilities to all our members. We already have more than 150 riders, which makes me very happy”, said Tadej about UAE as the new main sponsor of Pogi Team.

Miha Koncilija, the team’s chief sports director and Tadej’s first coach after the first year of operation, reveals the club’s vision, which is, as he says: “To become the best cycling academy in the region and beyond, and to produce new winners with a top professional approach”. But he does not hide his goals for the future, which are “in the near future to have an under-23 team, which will allow talented young riders to move to foreign professional clubs”.

Seven Pogi Team coaches inspire young of all ages to be hard-working, diligent and friendly, preparing them for a responsible and realistic life in sport and beyond. Pogi Team runs a cycling school for the youngest interested in cycling. Pogi Team also includes five age categories, from boys to juniors and older juniors. In 2021, the team achieved 36 first places, 31 second places, 25 third places and 5 team podium finishes.

Pogi Team will also organise 7 cycling races this season, which count for the Slovenian Cup points, i. e. : 1. Kamnik Trophy (10th April 2022), 15. GP Komenda and Lidlov pokal za mlade (21th May 2022), Tadej Pogačar Trophy in GP Plastike Virant (24th June 2022), 11. GP Občina Vodice (17th September 2022), School National Championship Time trial, Planica (28th September 2022), GP Avtomojster Podsmreka (9th October 2022) and Cyclocross Ljubljana (26th December 2022).

For the 2022 season, the team will be called Pogi Team UAE Generali. Other sponsors of the team include the Slovenian Tourist Organisation STO with the brand I feel Slovenia, Tuš, the Municipality of Ljubljana, Carthago, Peugeot Slovenia, Avtotehna Vis, which will donate two new cars to the club in the new season – a Peugeot 2008 and a Peugeot 3008, Telekom Slovenije, Guardiaris, Ljubljanske mlekarne, A2U, MDM, BTC City, Alpina, Olea Europea, and among the foreign sponsors are Colnago, Met, Prologo, DMT, Scicon, Elite and Ale, new associate members include tyre manufacturer Pirelli and pedal manufacturer Look.

In December 2021, KD Rog also held elections for a new president. For the next four years, the club will be led by Andrej Hauptman, who has cycling in his genes, having joined the ranks of KD Rog back in 1986, first as a rider, then as a coach, sports director and national coach. One of the focal points of his vision will be to ensure and strive for the safety of the youngest members of the club, which will be helped by the construction of a cycling centre on the outskirts of Ljubljana, which the club is planning together with the Municipality of Ljubljana. The cycling centre will have a closed circuit for all categories (asphalt circuit, cyclocross track and pump track).

The name Pogi Team, behind which stands Tadej Pogačar, in itself commands respect. The children and the junior team will continue to train with joy and enthusiasm, knowing that they have the support of the best cyclist in the world, with whom they share the slogan “Never quit trying and never give up”, and will not run out of motivation and goodwill.