At the annual Days of Slovenian Tourism in Ljubljana on Tuesday, Roglič won the Crystal Triglav as the person who made the biggest contribution to Slovenia's international recognisability in the past year.

Roglič, a Jumbo-Visma rider, clinched a series of key victories this year, including at the Vuelta, Tour de Romandie, the premiere UAE Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico race, finishing third at the Giro d'Italia.

"Each time he takes part in a race, be it in Slovenia or abroad, two things are certain: he will be cheered on wholeheartedly by whole Slovenia, and our country ... will be on the front pages of all major sport and other media again," the award's reasoning said.

Also honoured at the ceremony was Emil Gaspari, a Slovenian who embarked on a cargo ship for the US in 1961, now a businessman best known as Slovenian Vodka founder and Slovenian Premium Wines president.

Gaspari was declared the ambassador of Slovenian tourism for 2019 by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, which described him as a true promoter of Slovenia and his home town Celje.