Hi Miran! Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your background in cycling?

I am Miran Kovačič. I consider myself a "semi pro" cyclist because cycling is completely a part of my life. I actually started cycling fairly recently, in 2019. Before that, I spent 15 years as a semi professional motocross rider, which gave me my racing foundation.
When it comes to cycling, I prefer long, hard endurance races, like L'Etape du Tour. Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to become a multipletime Slovenian champion in both hill climbs and road races. This year, I’m looking for a new challenge, so I will be testing myself also at the Elite Road Race National Championships, racing right alongside the pro riders.

As a Slovenian rider, you come from a country that has produced some of the biggest names currently in cycling, such as Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Matej Mohoric. What do you think makes Slovenia such a successful cycling nation?

I believe it is just in our nature to compete. We come from a small country, so you have to be an exceptionally good athlete just to be noticed. But we are incredibly lucky, Slovenia has beautiful nature, with massive mountain climbs, the sea, and everything in between. It really is the perfect cycling land. The only downside, to be completely fair, is the car drivers.

What does the Tour de France represent to you?

For every cycling fan out there, the Tour de France is absolutely the peak of the year. What really makes the race such a spectacle is the people, the roads are just packed with these massive, roaring crowds. And of course, you have all the biggest names in the sport showing up, ready to leave absolutely everything out on the road.

Who is your favorite rider?

I don't really have just one favorite rider. I'm a fan of a few of them, like Primož Roglič, Tadej Pogačar, Wout Van Aert, Tom Pidcock, Mathieu Van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard. And on the women's side, Demi Vollering is definitely the one for me.

What kind of rider are you?

I used to be a climber, but lately, I’ve been working hard to become more of an all-rounder, someone who can be as strong as possible on any terrain. At the end of the day, I just love it when a race is long and hard.

Are you ready to face 5.400m elevation gain in July in L'Etape du Tour 2026? WHat would a successful L'Etape du Tour 2026 look like for you?

The route this year is crazy to say, it will be a super, super hard day on the bike with the heat which is also expected, but I believe if we don't enjoy what we are doing then we would not be here. So the main goal is to give everything, regret nothing and enjoy the roads which will be later taken by the best riders in the world.

What do you thing about the route between Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'huez?

The route this year is brutal, with a lot of iconic climbs. To enjoy the event, you have to be as ready as possible, or ride with a bit of reserve at the start. But this is what makes this L'Etape even more iconic for all of us.

Through which event did you qualify for the L'Etape Championship 2026? And how was that race?

I qualified through the L'Etape Slovenia, the race was good, not too hard, this year they changed the route that should suit me better than the previous edition, so I can't wait to see what the race will be this year.

Finally, when was your first L’Étape Series event? And why would you recommend participating in a L’Etape Series event?

My first L'Etape Series event was back in 2023 here in Slovenia. I would recommend the L'Etape Series to anyone who loves the Tour de France. The route, the course markings, and even the spectators really make the event feel like a real Tour stage.

Thank you Miran and see you in Alpe d'Huez!

Follow Miran's journey to L'Étape du Tour!

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