The fourth round of the season is scheduled for the weekend of 7 and 8 June under Trdinov vrh, the highest point of Gorjanci mountain in southeastern Slovenia. The fourth of seven rounds – so the one where the season breaks? We’ll see, but the racing is sure to be top-notch again.
The location is Gorjanci mountain, village of Gabrje, not far from city of Novo mesto, and the Zverinice Cycling Club is holding a round of SloEnduro series for the fifth year in a row. Last year they hosted the national championship and now the national champions will make their last appearance here before this year’s championship in Mežica.
The Course
There are no completely new special stages on the course, but the builders have made many improvements to the existing ones, and there will be a some new sections. There will be five stages on the long course, with more than half of the first one (Ciklama) moved to new trail. The entire Biciklama stage, about six minutes long (S4, in the long course and in the U17 course), will be the Shimano SuperStage. It could be the longest stage of the 2025 season.
The hills in Gorjanci are not kind to the legs. There will be 1250 vertical metres of climbing on the long course.
Course details here
The Field
Just over 200 riders from seven countries are registered.
In the men’s long course race, the first three races have not yet produced a Slovenian winner, with victories being taken by our eastern neighbours and their neigbours from the north. This weekend will be a bit different, as Hungarian Áron Babó, winner of Borovci and Cilenca, will make his World Cup junior debut in Leogang. The winner of Nova Gorica, Slovak Luboš Staňo, his teammate Maroš Krupa and Slovenian champion Vid Peršak will also be there. This can only mean that the race for the men’s victory in Gorjanci will be even more intense.
The double SloEnduro champion Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) has the most experience with eight wins in the series, two from Gorjanci as a junior in the first two editions in 2021 and 2022. The 2021 win was also his first overall win in the series. But a few more elite riders, as well as a number of juniors, will be going all out. We might even get a new winner,
Babó and Staňo already have some advantage in the overall standings and will stay at the top, but the Slovenians will get closer.
In the women’s race, Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem) will try to continue her winning streak, which she actually started at last year’s final race in Grožnjan, and which also includes a World Cup win in Poland and last weekend’s 20chocolate Downhill Cup downhill at home in Ravne na Koroškem. Slovakia’s Valentina Grendova, who was second behind Nežka in all three races, will also be missing, while Croatia’s Larisa Bošnjak, third from Nova Gorica, returns.
The most even ranking is in the U17 men, where Lenart Sever remains in the lead despite his lower finish at Cilenca. The closest challenger, Hungarian Mátyás Cizmazia, will skip the race, but Sever will be challenged by Cilenca winner Ažbe Bizjan, Žiga Munih, Cilienca runner-up Nik Potočan, and returning Cilienca third-placed Davide Zinutti from Italy…
List of entries on prijavim.se
Besides the Race
It will be an eventful weekend again at the vnue next to the chalet of the Trdinov vrh Hunting Association. Most of the participants are staying there in caravans, vans, tents and also under the roof of the chalet. The organisers take good care of the food and drinks. There are gifts, snacks, drinks and a hot meal waiting for all participants.
We are already used to the helicopter in Gorjanci. On Sunday it will be available again for panoramic flights.
There will also be a charity part, we will donate to buy a house lift for 9-year-old Tit, who has muscular dystrophy.
Schedule
Standard with training starting at 11am on Saturday and racing on Sunday at 9.30am. The race will be finished before 4pm, but until then you are welcome to join us at the special stages above the venue.
Live timing on Sunday
Details of the SloEnduro Gorjanci race in the propositions
Weather
Boring: sun, sun and more sun with temperatures towards 30 degrees. Lots of fluids to drink, but it won’t be as hellishly hot as the first year.
Beasts in the Video
SloEnduro Gorjanci 2025 is also announced with these two short videos starring the Zverinice (Beasts) club members.
