The return of downhill racing to Koroška in style. Luka Berginc successfully returned to the series and enduro rider Nežka Libnik is also very happy with her visit to this discipline.
The second race of the Slovenian downhill series 20chocolate Downhill Cup, the first DH Poseka in the Bike Park Poseka in Ravne na Koroškem in northeastern Slovenia, was as expected quite different from the first one two weeks ago, the DH Planina on Gorjanci mountain. With only a good kilometre of length and 160 metres of elevation drop, it was a much shorter track, also less “full gas”. Unlike Planina, the track remained dry and dusty until the end of the race.
The times, however, stayed above one minute and 40 seconds even for the fastest, and also there were other names at the top than in Dolenjska. Thanks also to the strong enduro riders from Koroška, who came to their home race to test how they are doing in the related, yet so different discipline of downhill.
Nežka Also Hard to Beat in Downhill
It was clear that Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne), who is competing in the junior category for the first season, and in the SloEnduro and 20chocolate Downhill Cup belongs to the women’s category together with the elite, will be a threat to the winner of the first race, Maša Komel (427 Savage Squad). Local girl Nežka is unbeatable in SloEnduro series, boasting a junior World Cup victory, and won her only downhill attempt, last year’s National Series race at Kope. Once again, she was the fastest in both the seeding and the final run, with a time of one minute, 50 seconds and 75 hundredths, something to think about for majority of the boys and men who gave it their all on this track.
In the final Maša was ten seconds behind Nežka and of course kept the lead in the series standings, while another junior Neža Štern (MTB klub Kranj) came in third place, 14 seconds behind the winner.
Nežka:
“This was my second downhill race and it was a really great experience. The atmosphere and the company were great, especially because it was a home race. I guess downhill will remain a tradition once a year on home terrain, as my main focus is on enduro.”
The Return of Berginc
The men’s race also saw the arrival of a favourite who was absent from the first race due to work commitments – two-time national champion Luka Berginc, who transferred from the German team to the Croatian club Coast Riders after last season.
The downhill specialist was, of course, on a bike dedicated to this discipline, while the winner of DH Planina, Marko Niemiz (Rajd Ljubljana), was again on an enduro bike. Berginc won the seeding, Niemiz followed in second place, 1.79 seconds behind. The duel in the final might have been even closer if Niemiz hadn’t rolled in the woods along the track and finished in sixth place. Berginc, already a Slovenian and European Cup winner, celebrated his first win of the season.
Enduro specialist Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh), last year’s fastest Slovenian in the combined Slovenian and Austrian series race in Lienz, Austria, was 3.04 seconds behind Berginc in second place. Žan Šlibar Verovšek (ŠD Grabit), who finished third in his first Slovenian Cup podium, was 54 hundredths further down.
Berginc improved his result from the seeding by a good second in the final and his time of one minute, 42 seconds and 55 hundredths can now be considered a course record, as far as it makes sense in this discipline, where the course changes all the time depending on the line and conditions.
Niemiz remains in the lead of the series, second is Gašper Jurečič (ŠD Grabit), who was fourth in the final this time, and Berginc points, who took the maximum at Poseka.
Luka:
“The result is excellent. The track was a bit more for enduro bikes, but you could do it with a downhill bike. It’s a familiar track, like we’re used to, I grew up on tracks like this one, so I was able to ride it without too much trouble. Great weekend! And for the rest of the season, the Slovenian Cup and maybe some European Cup races, if it’s a good season.”
Local Rules Juniors
Local junior rider Tian Pečnik (KK Ravne) was among the fastest elite with the second fastest time overall in the final and thus also the second highest prize money in the men’s category. One of the fastest Slovenian juniors in enduro, Tian Pečnik had two attempts at downhill races last year, but he couldn’t really brag about it. This time he won both the seeding and the final in his category, the latter just 2.23 seconds behind Berginc.
He was followed in second place among the juniors by the national champion and last year’s junior cup champion Matej Osolin (Golovec trails), with Tevž Premrl (MTB klub Kranj) in third place.
Planina winner Martin Mark Milar (Rajd Ljubljana) had a bad day with 15th place in the seeding and 11th in the final, but his rivals are not very steady either, so he kept his lead in the series standings. Pečnik came “out of nowhere” to second place, Premrl is third.
Croatian Champion Among U17
In the Under-17 category, the most numerous with 37 competitors in the final, Croatian champion Šimun Juras (BK Fortica) showed his teeth. The youngster from Šibenik, who regularly competes in the jersey of the Croatian national team in European Cup races, was second in the ranking behind local Niko Potočan (KK Ravne). A repeat time would have secured victory in the final, but Niko’s poor performance meant that he slipped to 6th place.
Juras was followed by last year’s U15 Cup champion Maks Fošnarič (Spank Maribor) in second place and enduro specialist Jakob Pristovnik (KK Ravne) in third. Juras and Fošnarič are at the top of the standings after two races, Jakob Rozman (MTB klub Kranj) is third.
Younger and Older
In the U15 category, as on Planina, Nik Brumen (427 Savage Squad) dominated, and with his final time would have been second in the U17 category!
For the Under 13s, it was the first Cup race this year. The winner was Vili Semenič (KK Črn trn).
Jure Logar (427 Savage Squad) won the master category and Matic Kokl (MTB club Kranj) won the amateur category.
All DH Poseka results and series standings in the 20chocolate Downhill Cup
Welcome, Poseka, and Welcome Back, Koroška
The organisers, the Institution for Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Activities of the town of Ravne na Koroškem, in cooperation with members of the Ravne na Koroškem Cycling Club, successfully held their first downhill race. The riders were also very pleased with the slightly different course, not to mention everything else that the Poseka Bike Park with its lift and the Poseka House and the Ravne Sports Park with all its infrastructure have to offer. The park’s trails, which are all to the right of the Divja jaga downhill trail, were open for public all weekend, just the line for the lift was sometimes a little longer.
Thanks also to the riders from Koroška region, there were 159 riders from Austria, Croatia and Slovenia on the start list for the seeding run.
The response from mountain biking enthusiasts was also good, with quite a loud crowd along the course. After 14 years, the downhill is back in Koroška and hopefully it will settle here permanently.
Next: Maribor!
After a month and a half break, the 20chocolate Downhill Cup series will resume at the world-famous venue, the World Cup track in the Pohorje Maribor Bike Park. The race on 20 July will also be this year’s national downhill championship. It will be organised by Maribor’s Grabit Sports Association. More to follow at sloveniadownhillcup.si!
Photos by Andras Oravecz @andras_oravecz