In August 2023, Slovenia suffered massive floods that affected two-thirds of the entire country. At least seven people died, with property damage amounting to billions of euros.
As the European nation struggles to rebuild, it will get a little help from a homegrown hero: cycling star Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian road cyclist — affectionately known as “Pogi” to his fans — has dominated the sport this year. He’s now in the elite club of racers who have won both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France (he won both this season), where the young phenom logged a dozen stage wins in 2024.
Now, Pogačar will use his fame and fortune to help his many fellow Slovenians impacted by the tragic flooding last year. In an Instagram post last month, Pogačar said his charity organization, the Tadej Pogačar Foundation, would begin accepting proposals from those in need.
“This is my dream now after cycling — to help people,” Pogačar said on Instagram.
Pogačar: ‘No Secret That I’ve Made a Lot of Money’
The 25-year-old cyclist has quickly carved a name for himself in the history of the sport. He has won the Tour de France three times, the Tour d’Italia in 2024, and six of the iconic Monument races. His racing vita has become so impressive that many cycling fans now place him among the greatest in history, like Eddie Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
But in a deeply personal message posted to the Tadej Pogačar Foundation Instagram page, Pogačar expressed discomfort with the money he’s earned through those cycling successes. That’s why he dedicates some of that fortune to helping others.
“It’s no secret that I’ve made a lot of money from cycling in the last few years,” he said in the above video. “My great desire is to help. We are starting the year after the devastating floods by collecting requests from flood-affected families.”
EuroNews reported that last year’s floods affected nearly everyone in Slovenia. In fact, 183 of 212 municipalities were impacted, as the country saw 63% more rainfall than average.
According to the European news outlet, the worsening flood issue is another symptom of climate change. As a result, the Slovenian government is currently working to build more levees and other infrastructure to improve its resilience to future floods.
Pogačar isn’t the first Slovenian athlete to raise money for flood victims, however. Last year, competitive climbing GOAT Janja Garnbret donated all the prize money from a World Cup win to those affected by the tragedy. Other Slovenian athletes have helped as well, Slovenia.si reported.
