The new SloEnduro season – the 12th in a row – could hardly have started better. A classic Kamplc race in Ajdovščina, the oldest on Slovenian soil and in the region, a sunny weekend, too hot to say the least, almost 300 competitors from eight countries, close and intense racing on a varied course with 40 km, 1350 m of climbing, six stages on the long course and much more.
In the end, the fastest five men on the long course were Slovenian: Vid Peršak, competing for the first time in the Unior – Sinter Factory Racing jersey, scored his 28th SloEnduro victory! He was followed in second place by local Tim Jež (Kamplc Racing Team), winner of Kamplc in 2020, last year’s SloEnduro champion Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) finished third, followed by national downhill champion Luka Berginc (HDR Team) in 4th place and Jernej Kavčič (MBK Črni Vrh) in 5th place. The top five were followed by the two fastest international riders, Austria’s Max Fejer (Team Dorrong), the 2019 SloEnduro Champion, in 6th place and the excellent Hungarian junior Áron Babó (FRO Racing) in 7th. Behind them, the fastest veteran Sebastjan Stres (Kamplc) in 8th, Tilen Leban (Deš Fleš) in 9th and Jaša Kasjak Gutman (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) in 10th were also among the top ten.
In the women’s race, Germany’s Raphaela Richter (Simplon Trailblazers), who finished in the top 10 of the World Cup four times last year, has justified her status as first favourite. She was followed in second place by local Maša Komel (KK Črn trn), who took one stage win, and in third by compatriot Silja Geck (Nicolai / iXS). Fourth went to Austria’s Sabrina Eberhard (Radlager Racing Division) and fifth to Darja Kodrič (MTB Trbovlje). Teja Cerar (Golovec Trails) made a great start with a third time in the first stage, but finished the race with a shoulder injury in the second stage.
Deeper into men’s race
Tim Jež started the first stage with a win ahead of Berginc and Kavčič. Peršak, who may have needed a bit more “warm-up” after only two weeks on his new bike, was only sixth. Peršak’s victory in the second stage, in which Jež was fourth, was crucial. From there Vid led the overall classification and held on to his advantage until the end, although Tim won the third and final stage. In the end, they were tied 3-3 in stage wins, with a difference of three hundredths of a second less than 7 seconds. Smrdel was just 15 seconds behind in third place, with Berginc breathing down his neck, a good two seconds behind.
Hungarian takes juniors
We have already mentioned the fastest junior: Áron Babó took five stage wins in his category, with only the second one going to Maj Babačič (Calcit Bike Team), who did not do well in the rest of the race and finished in the back. Second place went to Maks Struna (KK Završnica), who was second three times, and third place to Van Prosenik (Golovec Trails), almost a minute behind.
Sebastjan Stres won the middle veteran master 2 category, while his club mates from Kamplc were also top in the other two masters categories: in the younger master 1 Blaž Černigoj and in the older master 3 Martin Brus. The fastest amateur was Nejc Šikman (ŠD Grabit). In the strong e-bike category with seven stages, Kristjan Medvešček (ŠKTD Avče), second last year in Ajdovščina on the long course (unpowered), won the race ahead of Austrian Gerald Rosenkrantz (Radlager) and German Valentin Schleicher (Radon).
On shorter courses
The U17 categories, with 49 boys and four girls, competed for the first time on its own course, this time with five stages. At the beginning of her last season in this category, Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne) was once again the fastest of girls’ class, with a big lead over Neža Štern (MTB club Kranj Scott Team) and rookie Lana Kuzma (KK Črn trn).
Among the boys, Ian Laharnar (Kamplc) also started his second and last season in this category with a win, followed by Matija Lačen (KK Črn trn) and Tine Gračner (Golovec trails).
In the U15 category, Zala Krečič (Kamplc) won the girls’ race ahead of Eva Podvornik (427 Savage Squad), while Jakob Praček (Kamplc) won the boys’ race ahead of Žiga Munih (Pedal Racing Team) and Kostja Matijevec Jerman (Golovec trails). Aljaž Černigoj, another local from Kamplc team, won the 4Fun category.
In the shortest U13 course with three stages, Tjaž Stres (Kamplc) won ahead of Max Sliško (427 Savage Squad) and Jaka Sever (KK Črn trn).
Shimano SuperStage
For the first time, the SuperStage was coloured blue, the colour of the new sponsor. This was the last special stage of the day, held on the rocky Škou hill just above the town. Given the close racing, it’s no surprise that it was not the overall winners on top here. The fastest among the women was the U17 rider Nežka Libnik, and among the men Tim Jež.
They received 10 points each for the special Shimano SuperStage ranking, the winner will be receiving a nice sponsor’s prize at the end of the season.
All SloEnduro Kamplc results
For the first time we drew the Spar Online prize, one female and one male participant took home vouchers of €100 each.
Next in SloEnduro
Not much time to rest and fill the holes in speed and endurance until the next race. The second race will take place on 20 and 21 April, the SloEnduro Borovci in Ilirska Bistrica. Propositions and registration here. One week left to register!
Photos by Matej Lovrič
