This weekend SloEnduro series continues in Carinthia, on both sides of the border on Petzen and in Jamnica, with a series classic and round three of the season.
The Black Hole Bike Fest crew has been putting this event on since 2013, the first season of SloEnduro series. It was cancelled due to the epidemics last year so this will be the 8th edition. It has been the Slovenian National Championships, an EWS Qualifier, a round of EWS Continental Series and (this was the only time it was not a part of SloEnduro) a round of Enduro World Series in 2018. Black Hole Enduro has been voted SloEnduro Event of the Year several times.
This year the “BH Enduro” marks half of the season, being round three out of five SloEnduro “big league” events. It is also an Enduro World Series Qualifier event.
Austria + Slovenia in two days of racing
Once again, the race will be held in two countries. Each in one day.
The first venue is MTB Zone Bike Park Petzen in Austria. The track will be marked for walking on Friday. Then the training starts at noon on Saturday, followed by race run from 3pm*. It will be a long special stage but the riders can relax since they will get the uplift by Petzen gondola. They can save their legs for Sunday.
On Sunday it’s change of scenery with Jamnica, Slovenia where three special stages will be held. The training run start at 9am for the first riders on the list, and race run at noon. There will be about 750 elevation meters of climbing per lap, so about 1.5k total.
So basically it’s the SloEnduro single day format like it was introduced for 2021, only doubled to two days, two locations.
The U15, U17 and Hobi categories will only race in Jamnica on Sunday.
The exact course will be posted on Friday.
*Updated July 17: Due to bad weather forecast Saturday’s special stage on Petzen will be shortened. Access to start half way down Thriller trail will be via Flow trail. Also start is moved from 4 to 3pm.
Get to know the 2022 EWS terrain
This could be called a 2022 EWS rehearsal. But we are sure the Black Hole Enduro crew will come up with some new trails by then.
SloEnduro ranking
This year the series ranking is prepared by Prijavim.se. After first two rounds we have a junior rider on top of the overall ranking, Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) with a 2nd place and a win. 2019 Slovenian Champion Jan Markič (ŠKTD Avče) is in 2nd place and David Ivartnik (Energijateam.com) in third.
Vid Peršak (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) won round 1, the Nationals at Kamplc Enduro, then left out Enduro Gorjanci for his EWS schedule, but will be back for Black Hole Enduro, his home race. After taking 5th and 19th in La Thuile EWS races, Vid will be attacking from 4th overall.
Vid is the main favourite for the race but he will have quite a competition. For the first time in 2021 there will be a full Austrian line-up (welcome back, Austrians!) plus some other nations on the start list.
Yana Dobnig (Team Dorrong), the Austrian who became SloEnduro series women’s champion in 2018, is also registered. Vid and Yana are also the winners of last Black Hole Enduro two years ago.
Watch out, registration closes Wednesday night!
Covid-19
Same conditions for participating or crossing the border: proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test. No limitations for spectators attending the event. A mask needs to be worn inside Petzen gondola cabin.
Propositions and registration
Black Hole Bike Fest on Facebook: @blackholebikefest
… and on Instagram: @blackhole_bikefestival
