Less than two weeks to go until the second downhill cup race of the year, which will double as the race for the national championship titles. The return of the DH classic under Vitranc mountain.
So far this season we had one 20chocolate Downhill Cup points race, four World Cup races and the first European Cup race (the second one is this weekend). And the second Slovenian series race, which will also be the national championship, is also very close. We could also call it the most important race of the domestic season in Slovenia. If you haven’t already marked it in your calendar: Sunday, 30 June! Venue: Kranjska Gora.
As we announced a month ago, the classic venue in Kranjska Gora, which hosted the first race twenty years ago and the last European Cup race in 2019, is returning to the Cup.
The race will be organised by the Slovenian Cycling Federation in cooperation with local partners – Tourism Kranjska Gora, Bike Park Kranjska Gora and the hotel company HIT Alpinea.
New DH Track
For this occasion, the MTB Trbovlje team, led by Sebastjan Zmrzljak, experienced in organising races in Lošinj and Trbovlje, in cooperation with the park manager Matic Košir, has prepared a new course using some of the old downhill sections. It is 1800 meters long with an elevation difference of 285 meters.
“The track has more flow than it was in the last few races, it allows you to carry the speed. We wanted to make a track where modern downhill bikes come alive,” says Zmrzljak. “For example, the exit from the first forest section has been widened, and before Jakuzzi you come out of the forest earlier so there’s no sprinting uphill on gravel. After the break there are then two SG-style turns, then the North Shore forest section follows the basic line of the iXS European Cup races, but it’s wide-taped, the exit has been improved so there’s more speed for the last meadow part. There’s a ski style jump instead of a wooden one, with a left turn to the finish at the end, as there used to be. The average speed should be higher now,” Sebastjan describes the track informatively.
In the European Cup races, winning times in dry conditions have been well under two and a half minutes. Let’s wait and see what they are this time.
The finish will be at the end of the park, at the bike park cabin, just above the bottom station of the Vitranc I chairlift. The last turns are clear and always attractive for spectators.
33rd Time for the National Titles
Downhill is not really a new discipline in mountain biking anymore, it has a tradition in Slovenia as long as the Olympic discipline of cross-country. The first national championship in both disciplines was won in 1992. This year will be the thirty-third.
Monika Hrastnik (member of the French team AM Dorval Commencal, licensed by Maribor DGK Pohorje) and Luka Berginc (member of the German team HDR, licensed by the same Maribor club as Monika) will defend their titles.
Who will wear the Slovenian flag on their left sleeve for the next year?
Four-time champion Jure Žabjek has retired from racing this year and will not be looking for a fifth title to break away from the top three in the history of the championships – the late Janez Grašič and Miran Vauh also have four each. However, in case of a third title, Berginc, a successful rider from Idrsko (2021, 2023), or his neighbour from Kobarid Žak Gomilšček (Wolf Racing Team, champion 2020 and 2022) could move closer to the three. What if Vauh, who for tactical reasons still holds an elite category licence as a rider of Monika’s team, appears at the start?
With seven titles, Monika is already the most successful in the history of the championships and it’s hard for any of her rivals to interrupt their plans for title #8, as long as all is well with her thumb after Val di Sole. A week after Kranjska Gora, she will be in France for her next World Cup race.
Of course, it will be interesting in the other categories too, especially among the juniors and in the U17category .
Schedule
Saturday the 29th will be reserved for getting to know the course. With the cost free programme Gremo na kolo! (Let’s ride bikes!) Cycling Federation of Slovenia will also be on hand for the accompanying riders and visitors. Details below.
On Sunday, after the morning training session, the seeding run starts at 13:30 and the final at 16:00.
Registration
Entries open today, Tuesday 18th, and will remain open until midnight on the Wednesday before the race, 26 June.
Full details, propositions and registration on the event page.
Let’s Ride Bikes!
On Saturday, 29 June at 2 p.m., the Slovenian Cycling Union is organising the campaign Gremo na kolo! / Let’s Ride Bikes! free guided tours – gravel and enduro – around Kranjska Gora.
More information about both tours can be found in the propositions at the link above. In cooperation with the Extreme Vital shop, you can also rent Specialized bikes for free.