The Slovenian Downhill Cup completed its first season under the name 20chocolate Downhill Cup on the downhill “holy ground” of the World Cup course in the Bike Park Pohorje above Maribor.
Actually, not exactly there, because this time the 1660 m long course with 364 m of elevation gain was quite different from all the previous races. The organisers adapted it to the level of the competition, the start was a bit lower and for the first time it avoided the famous Rock’n’Roll section. However, the transport to the start was quite classic, by chairlifts as at the first World Cup in 1999 (both have since been replaced). It took a bit longer than the gondola, but at least the riders had a good rest.
The competitors were very happy with the new version of the course. It was well designed and prepared, with lots of fresh loam on the new sections. Even in dry conditions, the course was very challenging as the ground was very slippery.
On a sunny Saturday, the organisers also organised an e-bike ride as part of the Let’s Go Biking! Programme of the Slovenian Cycling Federation.
More than a hundred riders, representing four countries, came to Mariborsko Pohorje for the fourth and final race of the season. After Saturday’s course practice (and a few crashes and, unfortunately, injuries), 96 riders took to the start on Sunday.
Luka Berginc’s season
In the men’s category, Luka Berginc (DH Visit Pohorje) was the fastest for the fourth time this year, and for the fifth time if we count the trial race at Golovec at the beginning of the season. He also won the seeding run and took all the points there as well. In the whole season, he only missed out on 20 points in the DH Sljeme seeding run, where Ivan Bašić (Coast Riders) was ahead of him, so Berginc won the Cup overall title with a big advantage.
Gašper Jurečič (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) was second in Maribor final, nine seconds behind Berginc, followed by Croatian national champion Ivan Bašić in third place. Jurečič and Bašić also secured second and third place in the final standings. Both overtook Enej Podlipnik (Bikehanic Lumar), second in the standings before the final, who was injured in training on Saturday. Bašić also passed Jan Cimperman (MTB Trbovlje), who missed the last two races due to injury.
The best time recorded on the new course is Berginc’s from the final: 2 minutes, 19 seconds and 16 hundredths.
Clash of the young female riders
In the absence of Monika Hrastnik, who competed at the World Cup Finals in Canada, the women’s juniors Hana Kranjec Žagar (Rajd Ljubljana) and Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh), the former from the cross country and the latter in the enduro, competed for the win in the first row. Hana won her second race, beating Tina by 95 hundredths of a second in the classification and 53 hundredths of a second in the final. Third place in both races went to Eva Zala Stergar (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team).
Tight decision for the overall title in junior men
Among the U19 junior men, Austria’s Sebastian Weinhandl (Radsport Scheicher) won ahead of his compatriot Nikolas Kolle (Bikeclub Giant Strattegg) and Slovenian Nino Popović (KD Rajd).
Before the final, a trio of Slovenians were in contention for the overall win in this junior category, and the two Austrians who topped this year’s results also mixed things up a bit by taking points – along with Austria’s Maximilian Heck, third in the seeding. Series leader Maks Oblak (Supersnurf) was fifth in both runs, with second-placed Maj Babačič (Calcit Bike Team) ahead of him in 4th in both runs, while third-placed Popović was seventh in the seeding and, as mentioned above, the fastest of the Slovenes in third place in the final run. Overall order: Babačič wins the title with a 5 point advantage over Oblak, Popović remains third despite his success in the final.
International also in older and younger categories
In the men’s master category, Boštjan Volf (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) won convincingly ahead of Italian Daniele Garbelotto (ASD Jams Bike Team Buja) and Matjaž Rupar (Rajd Ljubljana). Boštjan was once again among the fastest riders of the day, setting the second fastest time of the final run behind Berginc.
The U17 Junior final was won by Max Žvegla (Bikehanic Lumar) ahead of Matej Osolin (Calcit Bike Team) and Juš Ažman (KK Završnica).
In the U15 boys, the win went to Kamplc Racing from Ajdovščina with Jakob Praček, followed by Croatian Toma Vuk Boban (BK Opušteno) in second and Gabriel Nosan (Calcit Bike Team) in third.
In the youngest U13 category, all three podium steps went to the Rajd Ljubljana team. Gal Palčič took first place ahead of Gal Novak and Rok Pavlič. In the amateur category, Andreas Vidovič (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) was the winner ahead of Gal Jevšenak Kodrič (35 Crew) and Grega Mali (Batt Crew).
All Kenda DH Pohorje results
Final rankings
Please find the final rankings for the 2023 20chocolate Downhill Cup here.
The awards will be presented, as you are used to, at the Mountain Bike and BMX Commission event after the end of the season.