Round three of the SloEnduro series featured an excellent course and thrilling battles – except for the long-course overall, where Nežka Libnik and Vid Peršak from Koroška region were convincingly the fastest.
The race at Dobrna returned to the series after a two-year hiatus. The eighth edition of the race since 2015 – if we also count the 4Fun series races – attracted slightly fewer participants, but the fastest Slovenian riders and a few guests from abroad – and above all the course, which the riders could not praise highly enough – ensured a race that will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Members of the Krokar Cycling Club prepared five special stages along the long course, with a total of just over 1,400 metres of climbing. Following a pleasantly cloudy Saturday, Sunday was sunny and hot, meaning that endurance also played a decisive role. Fortunately, there was plenty of water available along the course.
Teenagers on Attack, King Vid Firmly on Throne
National champion Vid Peršak (AON Racing), who missed the second race, isn’t aiming for the overall victory, but it’s always great to see him turn up to race in his home series in a relaxed manner. This time, the 30-year-old, wearing number plate 9, went head-to-head with 18- and 19-year-olds trying to take over SloEnduro. Vid remains on the throne, having conceded just one of the five stages to Maks Struna (KK Završnica).
By the finish line, Peršak had built up a 26-second lead over Struna in second place. Third place went to Tian Pečnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem), who is competing in the elite category for the first season. After the fourth stage, the battle for second place remained open, with Pečnik trailing Struna by just 0.19 seconds; however, by the end of the final stage, the gap had widened to a good four seconds.
Fourth place went to David Ivartnik (Golovec Trails) and fifth to the top junior rider, Blaž Stres (Kamplc Racing Team), winner of the second round on home soil in Ajdovščina.
Apart from Peršak and Ivartnik, the only other rider over the age of 19 in the top ten was Tim Jež (Kamplc) in 7th place.
Vid Peršak
“Hats off to the organisers for the race; apart from Morillon, this was my second favourite race this year. I think this is the right direction for SloEnduro. It’s important that, in these times when the law isn’t exactly on our side, we pull together and turn out for these races to show our support. To me, that seems almost the most important thing of all. The standard of racing at home is also very high.
As for my race – I’m feeling great, I’m simply riding well and I’m very happy with my form. That’s why I’ve achieved this result. I’m delighted that’s the case and that there are still a few races left at home, plus the World Championships.”
Stres remains at the top of the standings, Struna has climbed from fourth to second place, whilst Peršak, with one race fewer, has moved up from further down the field to third. Lenart Sever (KK Črn trn), ninth this time, has slipped from second to fourth.
Nežka Continues Winning Streak
As expected, the most serious rival to serial winner Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem) in women’s race was the Austrian Alexandra Eckert (Bikeclub Giant Stattegg), who managed to win one stage at the second race in Ajdovščina. Although she did not win any stages this time, she managed to finish less than two minutes behind after around 20 minutes of ‘net’ racing time. Her closest rivals, Maja Vojska (MBK Črni Vrh) and Darja Kodrič (MTB Trbovlje), took turns in third place during the stages; in the end, Vojska was half a minute faster in the battle for third place overall.
Nežka Libnik
“Another successfully completed SloEnduro race. The organisers prepared some superb trails for us, which I really enjoyed. It’s always lovely to return to races on home soil, have a bit of a chat and spend a good day on the bike in a great atmosphere.”
In the series standings, Libnik leads with the maximum haul of 1,200 points, whilst the battle for the remaining two podium places is wide open: Vojska has 670, Kodrič 660 and Eckert, with one race fewer, 600 points.
Long Course Overall Results
Men
- Vid Peršak (AON Racing) 16:04.67
- Maks Struna (KK Završnica) +26.39
- Tian Pečnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem) +30.45
- David Ivartnik (Golovec trails) +33.69
- Blaž Stres (Kamplc Racing Team) +40.83
Women
- Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem) 18:57.00
- Alexandra Eckert (Aut, Bikeclub Giant Stattegg) +1:58.33
- Maja Vojska (MBK Črni Vrh) +5:03.85
- Darja Kodrič (MTB Trbovlje) +5:33.42
In Long Course Categories
The fastest junior this time was Stres, followed by Aljaž Prosen (Kamplc), Lenart Sever (Črn trn) and Ian Laharnar (Kamplc), all of whom finished in the top ten of the men’s race.
The fastest veteran of the day was the Austrian Gerd Skant (Bikeclub Giant Stattegg) from the Master 1 category, finishing in 15th place overall, followed by Mitja Potočin (SD Strahovica) and Rožle Mesec (Golovec trails) from the same category. Primož Doler won the Master 2 category, whilst Branko Maček (both ŠKK Pendalna) won the Master 3 category.
In the e-bike category, Jan Pirnovar (MTB Trbovlje) won all six stages.
On Shorter Courses
The race in the U17 male category on four special stages proved particularly interesting, with Ažbe Bizjan (Golovec trails) beating the winner of the first two races, Erik Žgavc (Črn trn), by 2.76 seconds to take the victory. Third place went to Kostja Matijevec Jerman (Rajd Ljubljana). Ažbe had already secured one victory in the same category last year at Cilenca. Žgavc remains firmly at the top of the rankings.
The U17 girls’ battle of three was won by Eva Podvornik (ŠD Grabit). On the same course, Jaša Šonc (KD Brez zavor) took the win in the amateur male category.
On the U15 course, featuring three stages, Gal Novak (Rajd Ljubljana) was the fastest, finishing with a notable gap on his pursuers. It was a very close race for 2nd and 3rd, with Tjaž Stres (Kamplc) and Gal Palčič (Rajd) taking taking these spots at the end. With one win and two second-place finishes, Stres remains at the top of the standings. In the 4Fun category, Luka Rautar (Goša Gravity) won on the same course.
In the youngest U13 category, Jakob Matija Koren (Goša Gravity) won the race on the course featuring two stages just above Dobrna, ahead of Jaka Sluga (Kamplc) and Nejc Sever (Črn trn). The only girl in the U13 category was Ela Kolšek (Golovec).
Full race results for the SloEnduro Krokar 2026
Standings after three races
Ljubljana and Maribor Next
This very weekend (5 and 6 September) sees a race we’re all eagerly awaiting, even though it doesn’t count towards the series points: the first-ever pairs race at Golovec in Ljubljana, promoted as the DUO SloEnduro Golovec Trails. Naturally, it’s part of the Ljubljana MTB Vikend festival again this year. Today is the last day to register! Event details and registration here
Just a week later comes the highlight of the season with the fourth round of the series and this year’s national championships: SloEnduro Pohorje Maribor on 12 and 13 September! Propositions and registration
Photos by Matej Lovrič/Obalna BIKE scena
