Today, the director of the Cycling Club Perutnina Ptuj, follows young talents and notices that a lot has changed from training to equipment and the role of parents. In the Other Career section, in an interview for Sportal, he also talked about how Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič changed parents, why some people look for answers about training in artificial intelligence, how young and old people explain with an interesting comparison what one training session a week means, how the talented Mayor Bohak was impressed by Red Bull - responsible for BORA - and what will happen when Hans Roglič and Pogačar are no longer cyclists.
In sports, we often talk about great winners, champions and champions, but less often about people who never stood on the biggest stages, but left a lasting mark on their environment.
As a cyclist, he did not become a professional of the highest class, did not ride the Tour or Giro, but after completing the cycling route, he remained immersed in the sport that marked his life for more than two decades.
Although he now works mainly behind the scenes, he has fond memories of the time when he too dreamed of the big races.
The day one story ended unexpectedly and another began
When the word "end" was applied to his career, he at first sighed and said: "That's an interesting story". At 21 years of age, he was not yet saturated with cycling, and the reason was of a completely different nature: "In fact, I did not decide to end myself".
It happened in 2001 at the race Po Sloveniji, which will have a new continuation between 17 and 21 June. One of the stages ended in Ptuj, near his home. The morning part of the race went well and he did not think that such an afternoon would follow.
"We're training people for life", emphasizes Kelner, who sees more than results in sports.
"It was great until halfway through and then it cut me off, and I was still struggling to get to the top, but I was out of the time limit, so the race ended prematurely for me", said Kelner, who has a stage win at the 2000 Croatian Grand Prix.
He did not know then that he would decide on his future path that very day. Soon afterwards, the club director informed him that he was no longer counting on him as a cyclist in the future. Instead, he offered him a coaching position. Today he admits that the decision surprised him: "It was quite a shock.
Reason prevailed at the time, and instead of being stubborn, he put the active cycling career on the back burner: "To be perfectly honest, I wasn't a top cyclist and probably wasn't even at the level to become one".
It is this experience that today helps him to understand young athletes and parents who face limitations, expectations, and disappointments every day.
He had 12 years of cycling behind him, after starting at the age of nine by winning the Gold Cup with a BMX bike, and in his career he also trained with Andre Hauptman, Zoran Klemenčić, Martin Hvastija ...
From Coach to Director
The end of his competitive career did not take him away from cycling, but he stayed in the club, first as a coach, then he helped where he was needed, he was secretary, sports director, worked in the membership team, was involved in the organization and was also involved in the period when Perutnina Ptuj had a special influence in the cycling world.
Since 2018, he has been the director of the club, but his second career in Ptuj cycling was built much longer. He particularly vividly remembers the period around 2005 and 2006, when Martin Hvastija came to Perutnina Ptuj, first as a cyclist, then as a sports director, who worked together with Sreček Glivar.
According to him, cycling has changed a lot since his time, but work remains the foundation of success.
"I was there at that time. Those were the best years of Perutnina". During that period, strong Slovenian cycling names were spinning for the Ptuj team.
Kelner also recalls 2007 or 2008: "In the golden days, we were also the best continental team, which speaks to our quality at the time".
That's why today the question of the possible return of a team member seems logical, Kelner is not a fugitive from history, but he knows very well what such a project would require today, additional people, capable and skilled, significantly more money, the program, the races, the bikes, the fleet and the whole system that would have to be taken from day to day.
So in the short term, there's no prospect of returning to the team, but they're focusing their energy where they can do the most: in the youth, in development, in the base, from which the best can later move on to the larger systems.
"The Difference is Cosmic"
Comparing that period of his career with the present, he uses a phrase that is almost identical to that of many former athletes: "The difference is cosmic".
In his day, training wasn't measured in watts and analytics and data.
"Everyone's looking at you and the altitude today, but back then, we were doing mileage, we were training…
Read the full article at Siol.net →📄Source document: FirstCycling.com→26 reports
Siol.netIndependentCenter10 hr. agoThe final stage of the Swiss cycling race will take place today, featuring an extremely challenging route starting and ending in Villars-sur-Ollon. The course includes nearly 4,500 meters of elevation gain and three crossings of the Col de la Croix pass at 1,778 meters above sea level. Current leader Tadej Pogačar holds a 4:22 advantage over his closest rival, Richard Carapaz.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event without any political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses solely on the details of the race and does not involve political figures, policies, or contentious issues.
Žurnal24IndependentCenter2 days agoLaurence Pithie from New Zealand won the third stage of the cycling race through Slovenia, securing his first victory of the event. He maintained overall leadership after previously winning in Rogaska Slatina and finishing second in Ormoz. Pithie expressed satisfaction with his win, crediting his team's strategy and effort. The article mentions other riders who finished behind him, including Spaniard Ivan Cobo and Italian Stefan Oldanij.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports event without any political commentary, framing, or bias. It focuses solely on the competition results and athlete statements, with no mention of political figures, policies, or ideological perspectives.
24ur (POP TV)IndependentCenter2 days agoThe third stage of the Tour de Suisse takes place in Bad Ragaz with a route of approximately 157 kilometers and 2300 meters of elevation gain. Tadej Pogačar maintains a lead of nearly three minutes in the overall standings. The finish line is expected between 17:30 and 18:00, following two initial climbs and a long final flat section.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a cycling race without any political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses solely on the event details and performance of an athlete.
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenter2 days agoThe article reports on the 19th stage of the Tour de Suisse cycling race, which took place in Bad Ragaz. It highlights Tadej Pogačar as the leader, noting his advantage over other riders. The route included challenging climbs before transitioning into a less demanding section, potentially leading to a group sprint or breakaway victory. The article also lists the current standings after the second stage.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event without any overt political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses on the performance of athletes and the structure of the race, with no indication of ideological slant.
Žurnal24IndependentCenter3 days ago Pogačar in the second stage increased the lead, the jump of RogličaTadej Pogačar has increased his lead in the overall standings of the Tour de Suisse after finishing eighth in the second stage won by French cyclist Romain Gregoire. Pogačar also received news about an accident involving his fiancée, Urška Žigart, who suffered a jaw fracture during a women's pentathlon event in Switzerland. The article describes the race dynamics, including the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team's strategy and Pogačar's performance despite personal challenges.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports events and athlete performance without any overt political commentary or biased framing. It provides factual information about the cycling race results and mentions a personal incident involving a Slovenian athlete but does not take a stance or emphasize any particular
24ur (POP TV)IndependentCenter3 days ago The fugitives are trying, but the Pugwash team is rocking the tempo.In a 157.7 km stage starting and finishing in Locarno, an escape group consisting of nine cyclists, including Nairo Quintana and Lenny Martinez, attempted to break away but was quickly caught by the main peloton. The group tried again, forming a group of fourteen cyclists, but the UAE Team Emirates team maintained a high pace to prevent them from gaining significant advantage.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral account of a cycling race without any overt political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses solely on the events of the race and does not take a stance on any political issue.
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenter3 days ago Urška Zigarth taken to hospital after a bad fall in SwitzerlandSlovenska kolesarka Urška Žigart je med drugo etapo Dirke po Švici utrpela resen padec ob vstopu v zadnji kilometer etape. Po incidentu je bila odpeljana v bolnišnico. Podrobnosti o njenih poškodbah niso bile objavljene. Žigart je bila del skupine, ki je vključevala zmagovalko prve etape, Nizozemskega kolesarke Femke de Vries. Posnetki padca so bili objavljeni na družbenih omrežjih, kjer se kaže, da je Žigart izgubila nadzor nad kolesom pri okoli 50 km/h in zgrmela prek krmila. Etapo je osvojila Italijanka Elisa Longo Borghini.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports-related incident involving a Slovenian cyclist without any political commentary, framing, or bias. It provides factual details about the accident and its aftermath without taking a stance or using loaded language.
Siol.netIndependentCenter4 days ago The jerk who has almost all the shirts didn't even know what an advantage he had #videoTadej Pogačar, the world's top cyclist, won the first stage of the Tour de Suisse with over two minutes lead over his closest competitor. He admitted he didn't know the extent of his advantage until he received information via radio. Pogačar took the overall lead and will wear the yellow jersey tomorrow. He leads in all classifications except for the youngest rider category, where Czech Mathias Vacek leads.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports event without political commentary or bias. It focuses on the performance of an athlete and includes direct quotes from him, presenting facts objectively.
Primorske noviceIndependentCenter4 days agoTadej Pogačar has started the race in his own style in Switzerland.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a sports event involving Tadej Pogačar, a professional cyclist. The content is focused on athletic performance and does not involve political commentary, opinion, or controversy. There is no discernible bias in the framing or language used.
Maribor24IndependentCenter4 days agoTadej Pogačar has won the first stage of the Tour de Suisse, securing victory by two minutes and thirteen seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. This marks his ninth win of the year and further cements his status as a top cyclist. The article highlights Pogačar's strong performance, noting his dominance over competitors like Mathieu van der Poel and his overall form heading into the July French race. It also mentions that this is Pogačar's first time competing in the Tour de Suisse, which he has yet to win, along with other major races such as the Basque region race. Primož Roglič is also
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports achievements and does not present any political content or controversial issues. It provides factual information about Tadej Pogačar's performance without any apparent bias or ideological framing.
24ur (POP TV)IndependentCenter4 days ago In the first stage of the Tour de Suisse, Pogacar declassified the competition.In the first stage of the race in Switzerland, Tadej Pogačar demonstrated his dominance by overtaking the leading riders early on. The race started with Fredrik Dversnes Lavik and Cedric Beullens taking the lead, but Pogačar gradually increased his advantage through strategic pacing and superior performance in the heat. Despite attempts by other riders like Richard Carapaz to close the gap, Pogačar maintained a significant lead by the finish line.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports event and provides a factual account of the race without any apparent political commentary or biased language. It describes the performance of athletes and does not take a stance on political issues.
Žurnal24IndependentCenter4 days ago Pogi sent a message to all the doubters, he came, he saw, and he beat the competition.Tadej Pogačar has demonstrated strong performance in the first stage of the Swiss race, overtaking competitors by at least two minutes with an aggressive attack nearly 72 kilometers before the finish line. His performance has shifted opinions among cycling experts who previously favored Jonas Vingegaard for the upcoming Tour de France.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports performance and does not take a political stance or show bias in framing. It reports objectively on Pogačar's achievements without ideological slant.
Si21IndependentCenter4 days agoThe 32nd edition of the 'Dirka Po Sloveniji' cycling race will take place from today until June 21, connecting Slovenia's cycling routes over five days. The event is organized by the Slovenian Tourism Organization (STO) in partnership with Eurosport, aiming to promote Slovenia internationally. The article highlights Slovenia's growing reputation as a global cycling destination, partly due to the achievements of cyclists Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar, who are also ambassadors for Slovenian tourism. The race serves as an introduction to an exceptional year of cycling, culminating in the UEC (U
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event without taking a political stance or showing bias toward any particular ideology. It focuses on promoting Slovenia as a cycling destination and mentions athletes and organizations involved, without using loaded language or omitting key信息.
Official sources cited
- organisation Slovenian Tourism Organization (STO)
- organisation Eurosport
Siol.netIndependentCenter5 days ago The rooster got a clear role, he won't have time to warm upThe article discusses Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič being named the team captain for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe at the Tour of Switzerland. The race format has been shortened to five days this year, reducing opportunities for mistakes. Roglič will lead the team with several other riders, and the new format will require immediate performance without room for error.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event and does not present any political opinions, biases, or controversial perspectives. It focuses solely on the structure and implications of the race format change and Roglič's role within his team.
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenter5 days ago Other Swiss Pog&Rog and heating for large yellow pentellaThe article discusses Tadej Pogačar's debut at the five-day Tour of Switzerland, which serves as his final preparation before defending his title at the Tour de France. It also mentions Primož Roglič's participation in the race, noting that he aims to compete for the remaining major stage race titles. Both riders are making their first appearances at the event.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports events and athlete preparations without any political commentary, framing, or bias. The content is purely informational and does not take a stance on any political issue.
Svet24IndependentCenter6 days agoThe article announces that cyclists Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič are returning to racing, facing a major mountain circuit.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses sports events without any political commentary, framing, or bias. It simply reports on the return of two prominent cyclists to competition.
Primorske noviceIndependentCenter6 days ago Before the race, he overtookThe article's text is extremely brief, consisting only of the headline 'Pred trkom je prehiteval' which translates to 'He overtook before the race.' There is no additional content provided.
Bias read (Center): The subject is apolitical (sports), and there is insufficient information to determine any framing or slant.
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenter7 days ago Del Toro's one more excellent performance to career successThe article reports on Isaac del Toro, a Slovenian cyclist, who recently won two consecutive stages at the Auvergne-Rhone Alpes race, securing his first major victory in his career. Del Toro, who will soon become an assistant to Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France, has now achieved 29 professional wins. The article details his performance in the final stages of the race, including his climb up the Grand Colombier and his lead over other cyclists like Juan Ayuso and Lukas Tuckwell.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event without any overt political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses solely on the athletic achievements of Isaac del Toro and does not take a stance on political issues.
Siol.netIndependentCenter7 days ago Marjan Kelner: Her career ended suddenly, but cycling remains in her bloodMarjan Kelner, former cyclist who did not become a top professional, discusses his transition from cycling to coaching and managing the Perutnina Ptuj Cycling Club. He reflects on changes in cycling over the past two decades, including training methods, equipment, and parental involvement. The article also touches on the influence of top cyclists like Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič on the sport and younger generations.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on cultural aspects of sports and personal career transitions without taking a political stance or showing ideological framing. It presents information objectively, discussing changes in cycling culture and management without biased language or selective emphasis.
DeloIndependent🔒Center7 days agoThe article discusses a 20-kilometer cycling circuit with an ascent to Možjance, which will determine the champions and championesses of the old continent in road cycling in October.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a sports event without any political commentary, framing, or bias. It simply reports on a cycling race and its significance in determining champions.
Slovenia