The last downhill race of the season will take place this weekend. The classic DH Legends track will obviously be dry. We just may see a battle for the overall victory among the men’s elite, but there will definitely be a battle for the Croatian championship titles.
Three years ago, the Slovenian 20chocolate Downhill Cup helped revive the legendary DH Sljeme race above the Croatian capital of Zagreb. This weekend, on Sunday, October 5, the series returns there for the fourth year in a row, the third time for the finals. DH Sljeme 2025 will also be this year’s Croatian national downhill championship race.
The organizer, DSR Bike Park Sljeme, led by Nino Ružička, is currently completing the final work on the 1,600 m long track with a little less than 300 m of elevation drop on the northern slope of Medvednica mountain below the 1,035 m high peak of Sljeme. This year, the track will follow the familiar route, partly along ski slopes, but with numerous detours through forest sections. It has a new starting ramp built on a slightly lower location than the previous one, a few new jumps, banked turns, and even two wall rides to help maintain speed.
The finish line will again be at the lower chairlift station – which is no longer there! It has been removed, everything is ready for the construction of a new one, and this is the last year the transport to the start will be by shuttle.
It looks like the track will be dry at the end of the week, with ideal conditions for the race.
Battle for the Overall and Croatian Titles
In the women’s competition, Maša Komel (427 Savage Squad) is already the overall winner of the series, but her participation is uncertain due to a suspected injury sustained in the iXS European Cup final in Kranjska Gora, although she is already registered. Local rider Larisa Bošnjak (BBK Šišmiš) from Samobor, who after numerous seasons in cross-country and a few races in enduro has this year also started to try her hand at downhill, could theoretically still knock young Eva Podvornik (ŠD Grabit) off second place. The Alpine Ski World Cup slalom champion, Zrinka Ljutić, will also be on her bike at Sljeme, but probably not on the track.
Luka Berginc (Coast Riders) took the lead among the elite men at Soriška planina. Marko Niemiz (Rajd Ljubljana), last year’s winner at Sljeme, is 115 points behind him in second place.
In the junior men category, Matej Osolin (Golovec trails) will defend his 101-point lead over Maks Struna (KK Završnica). In the U17 male category, after disappointment in Kranjska Gora, Šimun Juras (BK Fortica) will come to Sljeme to celebrate overall victory, with second and third place already secured by Svit Kunaver Smolkovič (Bikehanic – Lumar) and Maks Fošnarič (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team).
In the Croatian championship, Fran Bošnjak will defend his title, but he can expect a challenge from Dalmatia. The slippery European Cup race in Kranjska Gora, which unfortunately decimated the ranks of riders at the end of the season, also took out his biggest rival, Matija Crnković (Coast Riders), who broke his collarbone. Fran’s sister Larisa has no real competition in the women’s category, while Juras will be the favorite among the juniors, as the Croatians have a combined U17 and U19 category.
Registration
Please note that registration is open until Wednesday at noon! From the race propositions or right here at prijavim.se, where you can also find the list of registered riders.
Schedule
Autumn is here, and the days are getting shorter. This time, the track will be open for riding on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with training on Sunday from 9 a.m., seeding run starting at 1 p.m., and the final run starting at 3:30 p.m.