This time, the Maribor downhill classic will take place in a shorter version, but it will only be slightly easier due to its shorter length. There will be plenty of excitement off the track as well.
Following a very successful start to the Slovenian 20chocolate Downhill Cup at the Poseka Bike Park in Ravne na Koroškem, the riders had just one weekend to rest, train or compete internationally. The series continues this weekend with the second race at the Pohorje Bike Park in Maribor, the DH Pohorje race.
The race, which last year hosted the national championship for the sixth time since 1998, returns this year as “just a regular” cup round. The organizers from the Grabit Sports Club, in collaboration with the city’s public company Marprom and the Cycling Federation of Slovenia, have prepared a modified course.
A Slightly Different World Cup Track
The track, of course, is not new; it uses most of the familiar World Cup track, but this time the start will be a little lower—not at the Luka hut, but after the first forest section, Špelcin log. The start is on the ski slope and soon after, the track enters the first forest, which ends with the rocky Rock’n’Roll section.
The track will be less demanding and, as such, more suitable for younger age groups simply because it will be shorter. Like last year, the youngest age group, U13, will start even lower at Trikotna jasa. The track will be closed only on Friday while it is being prepared for the weekend.
This time, the track will be slightly less than 1,500 m long, while the elevation drop remains a solid 300 meters.
At the top, the “cut-off” section measures approximately 700 m with 140 v.m. The infamous track will come to life again in its full length during the iXS European Downhill Cup finals from September 25 to 27.
The Field
Registration is still open, and the list is filling up. The Maribor race has always attracted extra interest among local riders and has also drawn some notable international names. Despite the different difficulty levels of the track—a downhill bike is a great choice for Maribor, while an enduro bike was perfectly suitable for the first race—the number of participants could approach the 160 riders who competed at Poseka.
List of registered riders
Race Schedule
It begins with a track riding session on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., followed by an hour for a track walk.
On Sunday, official training will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the seeding run starting at 1:30 p.m. and the final at 4 p.m. The awards ceremony will follow in the square in front of the gondola base station.
Side Events
Team support members, families, friends and fans will enjoy a free guided ride on Saturday as part of the “Let’ sRide!” program by the Cycling Federation of Slovenia. The tour starts at 12:00 PM. Details are available in the event propositions.
For competitors, Saturday’s course inspection will be spiced up by a “treasure hunt” organized by sponsor Smith Slovenia. More on this in the event propositions as well.
There will be something for everyone in the expo area. Starting on Saturday, the event’s gold sponsor, Luka’s Bikes, will be showcasing its products in the gondola square, along with SB Shop featuring Orbea and Cube bikes, A2U, Elan with new bikes—which you’ll also be able to test ride at Let’s Ride!—as well as distributor Vetta, Smith Slovenia, and the brands Continental and Muc-Off.
Once again, we’ll be drawing one winner from among the participants to receive a 100-euro prize, courtesy of our sponsor, 20chocolate. The drawing will take place at the awards ceremony!