At the second round of the Slovenian downhill series, the 20chocolate Downhill Cup, held on a shortened World Cup track at the Pohorje Bike Park in Maribor, there were a series of close finishes.
The classic track, on which the forest section with the “Rock ’n’ Roll” rock garden has remained virtually unchanged since 1998, was slightly shortened at the top this time. Instead of starting at the Luka hut, the start was set about 200 meters lower in elevation. The 122 participants from eight countries were spared the steep and technical section in Špelcin log, as the start was located just below it. The track was thus 1.5 km long with a 300-meter vertical drop. The fastest riders completed it in less than two and a half minutes.
The shorter track was more forgiving, especially for younger riders, but for everyone it was once again the battleground for that one race of the season, which holds a special status due to its difficulty and history—even if it is “just” a series race. Attempts to race on enduro bikes—which are quite common in most Slovenian races—stand no chance of success here; the brutality of certain sections simply does not allow for bikes with a shorter wheelbase, steeper angles, and shorter suspension travel.
In dry and hot weather with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, the track was dusty and slippery.
Number 1 Remains on Top
Marko Niemiz (Bikehanic Lumar), who won the DH Poseka—the first race of the series—two weeks ago in Ravne na Koroškem and claimed the elite national championship title last year in Maribor, was once again the fastest. In the final, he clocked a time of two minutes, 18 seconds, and 71 hundredths. He was closely followed by Croatian Matija Crnković (Coast Riders), who is getting faster and faster as he competes regularly in the European and World Cups for the national team. In the seeding run, Crnković was the fastest, finishing 41 hundredths of a second ahead of Niemiz. In the final, both improved their times by a few seconds, but Niemiz won with a 49-hundredths-of-a-second lead.
Third place went to Italian Simone Leo (Bike O’Clock) in both runs. In terms of time, the only other rider to challenge Niemiz and Crnković was the fastest junior, Svit Kunaver Smolkovič, Marko’s teammate on the Bikehanic Lumar team. Svit also won his second race in a row and claimed third place on the overall podium for both elite and junior riders. He finished 1.28 seconds behind Niemiz. Leo, who placed fourth, finished 5.1 seconds behind the winner, while Miha Jerkič (KK Črn trn) came in fifth, 7.34 seconds behind.
Among the juniors, Kunaver Smolkovič was followed by local riders Sven Podvornik (ŠD Grabit) in second place and Žiga Žižek (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) in third.
“The final run was pretty good—a couple of mistakes, but I think everyone made them. I’m happy I won. It was pretty slippery; it’s very easy to make mistakes.”
Niemiz, who, as Kristjan Vreček noted in an interview at the finish line, is one of the very few competitors who race on flat pedals.
A Turnaround in Women’s Race as Well
In the seeding run, the fastest woman was local U17 rider Eva Podvornik (Grabit), who finished a good two seconds ahead of last year’s Cup winner Maša Komel (Črn trn). In the final, both gave it their all and shaved off a few more seconds, but Maša was faster by a mere 19 hundredths of a second! Third place went to Neža Štern (MTB Club Kranj), who finished well behind.
After finishing second at Poseka, Komel took the lead in the series standings.
“Yeah, the girls were fast—almost too fast—and I had to attack in the final. We made mistakes on the dusty track; in the end, it came down to small margins. This is the race of the season that says the most; it’s the race we all look forward to the most because it’s all or nothing here. I’m also planning to compete here in the European Cup final.”
Maša Komel
Results
Women
1. Maša Komel (KK Črn trn) 2:52.09
2. Eva Podvornik (ŠD Grabit) +0.19
3. Neža Štern (MTB klub Kranj) +22.59
4. Sól Snorradóttir (Iceland) +29.54
5. Lija Leber (427 Savage Squad) +37.86
Men
1. Marko Niemiz (Bikehanic Lumar) 2:18.71
2. Matija Crnković (Croatia, Coast Riders) +0.49
3. Svit Kunaver Smolkovič (Bikehanic Lumar) +1.28
4. Simone Leo (Italy, Bike O’Clock) +5.10
5. Miha Jerkič (KK Črn trn) +7.34
Full results
In Other Categories
Things were also exciting in the most numerous category—the under-17 men—where the top contenders were quite evenly matched. Croatian Lukas Crnković (Coast Riders) was the fastest in the seeding run, but despite improving his time by a full second in the final, he finished just off the podium. The locals took the lead, spearheaded by two riders from Maribor: Nik Brumen (427 Savage Squad) won—last year’s champion in the under-15 boys’ category here and also the cup champion. He beat Maks Fošnarič (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) by 87 hundredths of a second; Tai Bizjak (KK Ravne na Koroškem) finished third.
In the U15 boys’ category, Frans Puputti (Kangasalan Kisa) from Finland pulled off a surprise victory, finishing just 15 hundredths of a second ahead of Max Sliško (427 Savage Squad) in second place; Gal Palčič (Rajd Ljubljana) came in third.
In the men’s veteran (master) category, Rožle Mesec (Golovec Trails) defended his title from Poseka, finishing ahead of Robi Pahovec (Hörmann Slovenia) and Klemen Krivic (MTB Club Goša Gravity).
Tilen Ferk (SD Strahovica) returned to the amateur category and won by a narrow margin ahead of Oskar Hozjan (Goša Gravity) and Poseka winner Matic Kokl (Alliance ASE Racing Team).
The youngest category, U13, saw a significant drop in participation from Poseka due to the track’s difficulty, even though the U13 competed on a shorter track. Jakob Matija Koren (Goša Gravity) won for the third time this year—including the Rookies Cup race in Kranjska Gora—while Bine Rupreht (KK Ravne na Koroškem) finished second.
Standings after two races
Trackside
The prize from the main sponsor, the local brand of high-quality chocolate 20chocolate—100 euros for the lucky winner—went back to Kranj, this time to Nejc Dagarin.
Saturday’s free guided tour, organized as part of the “Let’s Ride!” program by Cycling Federation of Slovenia, was postponed to a later date due to the heat.
Shout Out!
Thank you to the local organizers, ŠD Grabit and JP Marprom d.o.o. (Bike Park Pohorje Maribor), who, in collaboration with the Slovenian Cycling Federation, put on another excellent race.
They were supported by Luka’s Bikes (gold sponsor of DH Pohorje), Smith Slovenia, Factory Store, Elan, SB Shop, and Muc-Off, which also provided a generous prize pool.
Heading to Higher Elevations
Racing returns to Maribor’s Pohorje at the end of September with the final of the iXS European Downhill Cup, featuring the full track starting from the Luka hut. The 20chocolate Downhill Cup series continues in just two weeks, on July 12, with the DH Sor’ca race on Soriška Planina. Registration is open!
Propositions and registration for DH Sor’ca
Photos by Jure Kranjec @jure.kranjec