In a sport dominated by watts, tactics, and marginal gains, it’s unusual to see a World Tour champion trade the pressure of the peloton for the pages of a children’s book. Yet that’s exactly what Tadej Pogacar has done this time alongside his partner, fellow Slovenian pro Urska Zigart.
This summer, the pair became the central characters of The Adventures of Pogi and Pika, a colorful Slovenian children’s book written by Uroš Grilc and illustrated by Gregor Goršič. Instead of elite racers, the duo are recast as fairy-tale heroes, journeying through magical lands on bicycles, outsmarting dragons and giants.
Though playful on the surface, the project has a serious aim: to use the couple’s rising public profile to inspire the next generation of cyclists, especially at home in Slovenia.
Pogacar’s achievements speak for themselves four Tour de France titles, numerous Monument victories, and the 2024 world championship jersey—cementing him as both a national icon and a global face of cycling. Zigart, racing with AG Insurance–Soudal, has built her own reputation in the women’s peloton while championing gender equality in the sport.
In Pogi and Pika, it’s not brute strength or magical weapons that win the day, but teamwork, determination, and cycling itself. Where many children’s tales feature swords and spells, this story places the bicycle at the center—showing it as a tool of imagination, freedom, and discovery.
The creators are clear about their educational vision. With Slovenia riding high thanks to stars like Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, and Matej Mohoric, the hope is to translate elite success into grassroots growth. The book encourages kids to get outdoors, hop on a bike, and dream whether of a first ride or a future Tour victory.
Currently published only in Slovenian, The Adventures of Pogi and Pika has the potential to reach a global audience. With Pogacar’s worldwide following and the universal appeal of the story, an English edition seems likely. If it does, it could help expand cycling’s cultural presence. While other major sports already have a rich library of children’s media to cultivate young fans, cycling has lagged behind—too often framed in terms of hardship and endurance rather than joy and wonder.
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