Slovenia built its European Championships around Pogačar and Zigart, but neither will now race in Ljubljana

The promotional language left no ambiguity. Slovenia's tourism authority wrote that "it is not often that a reigning European champion has the opportunity to defend his title on his home roads."

Cycling Federation of Slovenia president Pavel Marđonović called the championship "the biggest sporting event Slovenia has ever organised so far," with organisers expecting 300,000 spectators along the route from Ljubljana to Šenčur.

When the route was unveiled, it was clear it had been tailored to Pogačar's strengths. The decisive climb of Možjanca (2.1km at 10.2%) features in the final circuit, with the elite men tackling a 196km race and the women riding 130km.

The organisers described it as a circuit that is "selective, but not extremely difficult." Pogačar won the 2025 European title with a dominant 75km solo breakaway in France's Drôme-Ardèche region, and the Slovenian course was built to give him a similar platform on home soil.

Instead, the 27-year-old will not race again this season as he continues his recovery from a fractured collarbone and other injuries sustained in his Vuelta a España crash. UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed that he will miss the World Championships, the European Championships and Il Lombardia. "Now I'll focus on getting healthy, supporting the guys from home, and coming back next year ready for what's ahead," Pogačar said.

Slovenia's tourism authority had placed Zigart at the centre of its women's race promotion, describing her as "Slovenia's most successful female cyclist and multiple national champion." However, Zigart refractured her jaw in a crash on Stage 3 of the Faun Tour Femmes, having originally suffered the same injury at the Tour de Suisse in June. "Given the nature of the injury and the fact that it concerns a repeated fracture, Urška's 2026 season is likely to come to an early end," AG Insurance-Soudal stated.

Zigart had been riding in third place overall at the Faun Tour before the crash ended her race. Her absence also rules her out of the World Championships in Montréal, meaning the couple will now support each other through their recoveries while the championships they were supposed to headline take place without them.

The one remaining headline act for the host nation is Primož Roglič, who finished the Vuelta 2:15 behind Enric Mas in second place overall, his sixth Vuelta podium from seven editions.

Speaking in Granada after the final stage, Roglič indicated he was looking ahead to the World Championships in Montreal and the European Championships on home roads in Slovenia. "Now I will try to focus on or enjoy the Worlds in Canada," Roglič said, before pointing to Ljubljana as the next objective.

"Second place feels like a victory to me," the 36-year-old said of his Vuelta, a campaign disrupted by a training crash before the race. His presence gives the organisers a legitimate star for the home fans, but filling the gap left by a defending European champion and a national women's icon is a considerable ask, even for a four-time Vuelta winner.

The European Championships are still expected to bring together more than 40 nations and around 800 athletes for five days of racing from October 2 to 7 in Ljubljana. Road races will travel through the Gorenjska alpine region, from the heart of Ljubljana north through Medvode, Škofja Loka and Kranj, with all 14 races finishing in Šenčur. The celebration of Slovenian cycling will go ahead. It will just look very different to the one the country had imagined.