UAE Team Emirates' Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar is doing his bit to help people back home in his country. Pogacar's yellow jersey was sold for €47,000 (Dh200,000) on Friday in a charity auction organised by Slovenia’s national public radio.
Pogacar’s jersey was bought by a local businessman. Organisers said the money will be used to support talented young sportspersons in Slovenia from underprivileged families.
The 22-year-old Pogacar became the youngest winner in 116 years on Sunday. He finished ahead of compatriot Primoz Roglic.
In his column for The National, Pogacar said winning the Tour was a dream come true.
"I thought beforehand that if I had a good day then probably, I would be close to [race leader Primoz] Roglic. He didn’t have the best day, so I was able to make up the time. I didn’t know that I had won the jersey until after he had crossed the line. I have a lot of respect for him as a rival and a friend. I know he’s disappointed at the moment but I’m sure we will have many great battles in the future," Pogacar wrote.
"I still can’t believe that I am the youngest Tour de France winner since 1904 and its first from Slovenia. I had some good years with UAE Team Emirates where I won Tour de l’Avenir in 2018 and capped by three stages victories and a podium at Vuelta a Espana last year."