Two foreign transfers

Cycling superstars could soon be rolling through Carinthia

(Bild: zVg)

Two Carinthian cycling talents are moving abroad. The new arrival from Feld am See was caught by a truck before the start of the national league. And real superstars could soon be rolling through Carinthia. . .

One foot in the professional business! That's what Carinthia's young cycling hopeful Heimo Fugger has. The 16-year-old from Klagenfurt's RC KAC has put himself on the radar of the big clubs with a strong pre-season. And is now pedaling for the Belgian team Cannibal-Victorious U19, which is the development team of the top team Bahrain Victorius.

Last year, he secured bronze at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Maribor.

(Bild: zVg)

"Stars like Wout Poels ride there," says Fugger happily. "But I'm still competing in a few races for the KAC, especially in Italy and Slovenia." Manolo Wrolich, offspring of ex-professional cyclist and Carinthian association boss Peter "Paco" Wrolich, is also heading abroad. To the USA to be precise. The 17-year-old has a sports scholarship there for four years from August.

Manolo Wrolich is moving overseas.

(Bild: ZVG)

And several cycling events are planned in Carinthia this year and in the coming years. On June 22, the Austrian junior championships will take place on Lake Klopein. The national cycling league will return to Carinthia for the first time since 2019. The final stage of the Alpe-Adria-Tour on August 18 at the Klagenfurter Ring will include the women's national league.

Ö-Tour uninteresting
The Tour of Austria does not roll through Carinthia. "It's only interesting for us if it takes place in September - or if you have an international media package. Like the one from Eurosport with 187 channels. That costs 500,000 euros," says Wrolich. For 2025, however, there is the possibility of bringing the Slovenian tour with the stars Pogacar, Roglic and Co. to Carinthia. "We have the privilege of one stage. Lake Klopein or the Villach/Wörthersee region are a possibility," says Wrolich.

Caught by a truck
The ARBÖ Feld am See cycling team will start the national league on Sunday without neo-leader Matej Drinovec. During training in Jesenice, he was hit by a truck and broke his collarbone. The 32-year-old underwent surgery on Monday. And on Thursday he was already back on his bike for 64 kilometers. "That's crazy! He's cut from a different cloth. Normally you don't get back on the bike for a few months," says Norbert Unterköfler, head of Feld am See.