To mark the start of the cycling season, Maribor police officers on Saturday, 12 April 2025, joined the so-called coffee riders, road cycling enthusiasts, and Uroš Škaper, the creator of the Kofirajd podcasts, which blends cycling talks with a good cup of coffee.
Uroš welcomed the cyclists and presented the route of the inaugural tour. He also conveyed greetings from Slovenia's top cyclist Primož Roglič, as the event was partially sponsored by the Primož Roglič Foundation. Slovenia's cycling ace took the opportunity to urge cyclists and other road users to stay safe in traffic, "The sun, the wind in your hair, the freedom on two wheels – these draw us back to the bike again and again. But to make sure it's not just for one season, wear a helmet, be visible and follow the traffic rules."
Before the cycling enthusiasts clipped in and set off on the 50 kilometre route, young athlete Tadeja Zavec shared her story of being severely injured in a collision with a car while cycling. Following the accident, she underwent several surgeries and endured years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. To this day, she continues to cope with the lasting effects of the crash.
An event like this forces a person to adapt their entire life to injury in an instant. There are surgeries and therapy, and all activities—including studies—must be adjusted accordingly. Tadeja has dedicated a great deal of energy to getting back on her feet as quickly as possible. Such an accident comes as a particularly harsh shock to young athletes who are accustomed to constantly being on the move. She acknowledged that returning to the road after such a traumatic experience is difficult—let alone getting back on a bike. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I'm happy to share my experience if it means preventing an accident," she concluded.
Tilen Finkšt, a professional cyclist employed at the Police as part of the Top Athletes Centre, also advocated for safe cycling, stating, "The road is not a race track, so be careful."
Venčeslav Markuš from the Uniformed Police Division of the Maribor Police Directorate used the opportunity to share some statistics on cycling-related road accidents. Last year 205 cyclists (222 in 2023) were involved in road traffic accidents. Of these, 1 (2 in 2023) was killed, 26 (40 in 2023) were seriously injured and 148 (149 in 2023) sustained minor injuries. Cyclists were found to be responsible for 61% of traffic accidents involving them (56% in 2023). The most common causes of these accidents were inappropriate speed, failure to yield the right of way and riding on the wrong side of the road/in the wrong direction. Of the cyclists responsible for accidents, 16.8% were found to be under the influence of alcohol (up from 15.3% in 2023). Most cycling accidents occurred in urban or densely populated areas.
