Tour favorite Pogacar is struggling with family drama: ‘Help, my niece is missing’ | cycling

“I am honored that so many people see me as a favorite,” said Pogacar during the team presentation on Wednesday. “It motivates me. We are looking at it day by day, I hope for the best. I’ve already explored a few rides and have a scenario in my head of how I want it to go. But cycling is so unpredictable, you never know what could happen.”

A day later, he shared on his social media some pictures of his younger self on the bike. “When I was a little kid with big dreams,” laughed the Slovenian. “Tomorrow begins a new dream.”

‘Kidnapping extremist sect’

However, Pogacar also shared a less nice message via Instagram. His niece Julija has apparently been missing for a while. “Help!”, writes the defending champion in the Tour with a link to an info page† It can be read that the 10-year-old girl has not been seen since November 3, 2021.

In a video, Julija’s father speaks. Peter Pogacar explains that his daughter was kidnapped by Melisa Smrekar, the mother who is said to be a member of an extremist sect and who was born Nataša Brumen. “We had been living separately for years, but shared parental authority,” it sounds. “She took our daughter with her never to return.”

Tip of 10,000 euros

Melisa Smrekar would be on the road with the couple Anka and Luka Ule. Spain (Canary Islands) and Portugal (Madeira, Azores) are being looked at as potential residences for Julija Pogacar as cult leader Lana Praner moved there.

Father Peter is offering 10,000 euros for a tip that could lead to the return of the niece of the two-time Tour winner.

Source: The newspapaer