Today’s queen stage at Tour of Slovenia was 147,2 km long and contained three Category 3 climbs before the C1 summit on the famous Slovenian ski resort of Krvavec.

The last 12 kilometres to the 1581m line averaged 7,7%, and from a small group in front, Pello Bilbao proved he was the strongest, and raised his arms solo across the line. The Spaniard dedicated the win to his late friend and teammate Gino Mäder, a day before the first anniversary of the latter’s passing.

“It’s a great feeling. In the end, I was feeling the responsibility. I was considered maybe the favourite for today. It’s not easy to work when all the eyes are on you. But anyway I was very confident. Also, the team was confident in me. They made everything as we planned. Then I found some strong riders there that I couldn’t drop before the finish line. I was thinking of crossing the line first. Maybe if I were going more aggressive at some point, I could even go for the leader jersey. But today for me was important to win the stage and dedicate it to Gino.

Tomorrow we will try our best to go for the jersey. It’s gonna be difficult, but we go with a lot of morale. This is going to be important in the run up to the Tour.”

Edoardo Zambanini finished 7th, and said after the race: “It was nice, we like to race here. Today we raced like a team. All as one for Pello. We moved well all the stage. And in the end, I felt good so I said to Pello: ‘Tell me what I have to do.’ And then when he told me to go, I started to move. I just continued then he attacked. I was in the second group. In the end, he won, I am super super happy.”

Sports Director Borut Božič commented today’s performance of the team: “After yesterday’s race seeing him to be in front with the strongest riders we decided to focus on him. Not only to win but to check his performance before the Tour de France. The team worked very well today. Each rider did his job. They all race as we planned. Our main goal was to protect Pello and to bring him in front before the last climb. He had Edoardo  to help 6km to go when the rhythm was the hardest. Pello felt good today since the start. I am very happy he took a win he wanted so hard. He rode the climb very well. We are very happy today. We are looking forward to tomorrow’s stage. Our goals are very high.”