Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) is the latest Slovenian cyclist to launch a campaign to support the development of cycling in his home country, along with compatriots Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Primoš Roglic (Jumbo Visma). On Thursday, Mohoric presented his new organization, the Matej Mohoric Foundation, to Slovenian cycling officials and journalists at the Hotel Grof in Vranco.

"The young cyclists on this year's national team are very strong and have great potential.

"I will help with my knowledge, experience, and funding because building a top quality program for young cyclists is a great investment. I hope they will have the same opportunities as other national teams in Europe and get off to an even better start."

Its goal is to support the development of cycling at the junior level by coaching, providing equipment to those who cannot afford it, and broadly promoting cycling as a recreational activity.

The program is national, but Mohorich added that he would like to be personally involved in arranging local races.

Mohoric raced for local club KK Krani (then Sava Krani) before turning pro with Cannondale in 2014 at age 19. With the Slovenian national team, he was junior and under-23 men's road race world champion in 2012 and 2013, respectively. This past season with Bahrain Victorious, he won two stages in the Tour de France and finished second overall in the Tour of Poland and Benelux Tour.

"The MM Foundation supports both the Slovenian junior national team and young category cycling at a more local level. The goal is to bring kids closer to the sport and create an environment where they can excel," the Slovenian road race champion said on his Twitter page. 'Not all of them will become future champions, but cycling is their passion and a means to a healthy lifestyle.'

The Matej Mohoric Foundation will officially partner with the Slovenian Cycling Association (KZS), the governing body of cycling in Slovenia, and the cooperation was finalized by a letter of intent signed by KZS president Pavel Marjonovic.

"It is my great pleasure that Matej will support the Slovenian Cycling Association and especially the Youth National Team. The youth category is important for the continuation of his career. It is a very sensitive period with respect to age, and potential is already being demonstrated during this period. It is important to react appropriately during this period, to help and guide young cyclists appropriately," Marjonovic said.

"There are currently 25 youngsters from six different clubs in the national team, and they all have the potential to follow Matei's success. Matej... . is ideal and irreplaceable, not only for his financial support, but also for his young boys, his professional staff, his professional liaisons, and his motivation."

As to whether Mohoric's trade team, Team Bahrain Victorious itself, is involved in the establishment, Mohoric told Slovenia's Peloton newspaper that the team is not directly involved at the moment, but the team plans to establish a U23 team in the future He commented that the team is planning to establish an U23 team in the future. The team's technical director, Vladimir Miholievich, also suggested the possibility of a development team in an interview with ProCycling in October. At the time of this writing, there has been no official announcement from the team regarding such a project.

Mohoric is not the only prominent Slovenian personally invested in the development of Slovenian cycling; in 2020, Pogachar, in cooperation with KD Log, the parent organization of Pogachar's former continental team, Ljubljana Gusto Santic, will launch a youth team and launched Poggi Team Generi. In addition, Roglic said on Instagram that he, too, is starting a foundation.