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Luka Berginc wins his seconds nationwide title, Monika Hrastnik now already has seven. The battles in youthful classes with much more drama.
What could possibly be higher than a race in a mountain move ski resort whereas the cities are melting in summer season warmth!? On the previous weekend Soriška planina in Julian Alps was the place to be for mountain bike racers.
Not only for those collaborating in spherical two of 20chocolate Downhill Cup which doubled because the 2023 Slovenian Nationwide Championships. On Saturday a spherical of SloXcup cross-country collection was held on the identical venue. There could possibly be extra weekends uniting a number of mountain bike disciplines! About 120 downhill and 150 cross-country riders confirmed up at Soriška planina.
Idrsko vs. Kobarid – 2 : 2
Kobarid is a small historic city within the Western Slovenia, identified for WWI battles as described in Hemingway’s Farewell To The Arm. That is the place the defending champion Žak Gomilšček (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) is from, and his primary challenger Luka Berginc (DH Go to Pohorje) is from the village of Idrsko, simply 2 km out of Kobarid. They’re mates and sparing companions who pushed one another to the highest of Slovenian downhill. In absence of the injured Jure Žabjek (Unior Sinter Manufacturing unit Racing) these two have been the primary favourites for the title.
Berginc completed second within the opening spherical of iXS European Downhill Cup in Lošinj and simply week earlier than Soriška he gained spherical one of many 20chocolate Downhill Cup at Petzen. Alternatively Gomilšček was a little bit of a thriller as a result of on European soil he solely raced twice this yr in two World Cup qualification runs after spending the spring in New Zealand. He’s additionally modified groups and bikes over the winter.
The championship was held at Soriška planina for the third yr. Gomilšček gained it final yr, Berginc the yr earlier than, and Gomilšček gained his first elite title in Maribor in 2020.
Berginc proved his velocity within the seeding run, he was the one one to journey the 1100 m observe with a vertical drop of 250 m in below 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Gomilšček 2022 successful time was 2:34 and even when the instances cannot actually comparable from yr to yr as a consequence of observe modifications and circumstances it was clear that Berginc already set the usual for the ultimate run. Gomilšček was in second 4 seconds behind and his teammate from New Zealand Finn Hawkesby-Browne in third 7 seconds behind Berginc. Final yr’s silver medallist Jan Cimperman (MTB Trbovlje) was fourth 7,54 behind Berginc.
The highest 4 names remained in the identical order after the ultimate run. Cimperman took the lead however he solely improved his seeding run time by a fraction of a second. He had his arms on not less than the bronze medal since there have been solely two Slovenian riders on begin and Hawkesby-Browne who was not a medal contender. The Kiwi was .98 sooner than Cimperman. Then Gomilšček got here flying in with 2:29.6! However this was nonetheless a bit slower than Berginc’s time within the seeding. Berginc was the final rider on observe and notably improved his seeding run time. He completed in 2:26.46 and gained his second Nationwide Championships elite title.
Title quantity 7 for Monika Hrastnik
Monika Hrastnik holds a DH Go to Pohorje license and is due to this fact technically Luka Berginc’s teammate even when she rides in a Dorval AM Commencal crew equipment. By successful her seventh nationwide title she turned essentially the most profitable rider within the 32 years of Slovenian Downhill Nationwide Championships.
The UCI rating’s quantity 5 feminine downhill rider did not face an actual competitors however that does not imply that the opposite riders did not give their finest to get as near her as attainable. The enduro Nationwide Champion Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) completed second 13 seconds down and the third quickest Katarina Primožič (ŠD BATT) was only a second slower than Smrdel. However since Primožič will not be maintain Slovenia Biking license the Championship bronze went to Ana Inkret (Calcit Bike Crew), a U17 rider who completed fourth.
Intense racing in youthful classes
The races of youthful age courses have been intense, filled with upsets and small gaps.
In males’s junior (U19) class Maj Babačič (Calcit Bike Crew) gained the title with a time simply 2.34 up on second positioned Miha Jerkič (KK Črn trn), the quickest from the seeding who failed to enhance his time within the closing. Maks Oblak (ŠD Supersnurf) snatched the bronze by simply .02.
In U17 male class the 2022 U15 winner Ažbe Kalinšek (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) gained by a big margin and with a time that may have introduced him a bronze within the elite class! Kalinšek crashed twice within the seeding run and completed in ninth place 14 seconds behind. However after his closing run time it was clear that his rivals did not have a lot change to beat his time. In the long run the second positioned Juš Ažman (KK Završnica) was 10 seconds behind and the third positioned Matej Osolin (Calcit Bike Crew), the quickest rider from the seeding, completed third 11 seconds behind after jamming his chain proper out of the beginning gate.
Outcomes
1st. Luka BERGINC (DH Go to Pohorje) — 12:26.46
2nd. Žak GOMILŠČEK (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) — +3.14
third. Finn Hawkesby-Browne (NZ, Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) — +7.29
4th. Jan Cimperman (MTB Trbovlje) — +10.03
fifth. Jure Tunič (Wolf Racing Crew) — +11.01
1st. Monika Hrastnik (DH Go to Pohorje) — 2:49.39
2nd. Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) — +13.11
third. Katarina Primožič (ŠD BATT) +14.12 — 1:33:48
4th. Ana Inkret (Calcit Bike Crew) +32.03 — 1:34:29
fifth. Eva Zala Strgar (DGK Pohorje – Spank Crew) +37.17 — 1:34:30
Subsequent one in September
This was an excellent double racing weekend at Soriška planina, one for the books. Due to Soriška planina resort, the MTB Železniki membership in addition to KK Završnica, the organizers of XC race who additionally gave a hand for Sunday’s downhill race.
Spherical 3 of 20chocolate Downhill Cup will probably be held on September 24 on Zagreb’s Sljeme mountain in Croatia. Particulars to comply with at www.sloveniadownhillcup.si.
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