The Giro d’Italia had already hosted a stage finish on Slovenian territory in 1971, in Ljubljana, but at that time it was still Yugoslavia. The first finish in an independent Slovenia (since 25 June 25 1991) therefore dates back to 1994, when Stage 12 started in Bibione and ended in Kranj after 204 km.

Due to geopolitical reasons and the delicate moment the Balkan region was experiencing, there was a certain coolness in relations between Italy and Slovenia. Still, Slovenian fans gave the Giro caravan a warm welcome with the chant “Živel Giro! Živelo Kolesarstvo!” (Long live the Giro! Long live cycling!) – a scene that in recent years has become increasingly common.

The stage ended in a sprint, contested by two riders from Vicenza – two friends, though rivals for the day – Andrea Ferrigato and Fabio Baldato, with the former managing to edge out the latter. “I’m sorry it had to be you, but I really needed this win,” said Ferrigato as he embraced his friend at the finish. “If I had to lose, better to lose to you. If it had been someone else, I’d be mad right now. But instead, I’m almost happy,” was Baldato’s heartfelt reply. He is now the sports director of a top Slovenian rider, none other than Tadej Pogačar.

Today, the number of Slovenian riders in the peloton is significant, but at that 1994 Giro, only one Slovenian took part: Valter Bonča, riding for Amore & Vita. Unfortunately, the historic home stage didn’t go as he had hoped: “Valter, eager to perform well, honored his bib number (17) by crashing during the feed zone in Ajdovščina, in front of his stunned fellow countrymen,” read the reports from that time. “And then, perhaps reminded of the day he was born (March 17), he punctured in Vrhnika, just before Ljubljana. Today, he’ll gladly be leaving Slovenia”.