The seventh edition of the enduro race at Golovec was tense on long and short course alike, but above all even more relaxed than at the “real” SloEnduro races.
The weekend of the seventh edition of Enduro Golovec Trails looked more grim at first than it was in the end. Almost completely dry stages, no drops from above and some sunshine too. However, the turnout was not close to previous editions in more fairytale-like weather, with 130 riders and e-bikers turning out for the start this time.
The Enduro Golovec Trails has a special promotional status within the SloEnduro series, with slightly adjusted rules and categories, and the course is also easier than the “big” races of the SloEnduro series. Therefore, it attracts a lot of young riders and also older ones, who may try to compete in the enduro discipline for the first time.
Due to the wet terrain at the Bike Park Ljubljana in Podutik, the Ljubljana MTB Vikend festival has been split into two weekends – the programme at the Bike Park Ljubljana has been moved to Saturday 28 September. The first two Enduro Golovec special stages, which were to take place on Saturday 14 September in Bike Park Ljubljana, have been cancelled. So the race was held in one day on Sunday, at Golovec, and a fourth stage was added to the three planned there.
Long Course – Men
Whether the rest of the organisation likes it or not, Enduro Golovec Trails event manager David Ivartnik leaves the reins to others and gets on his bike on race day. He started by winning the first two stages on Sunday, and he remained in the lead even after his second place in the third stage, where he was beaten by almost two seconds by his younger colleague (and protégé) in Golovec Trails team Van Prosenik. David took a tumble in the last stage of the day and only managed a 6th place, but luckily for him Van didn’t do too well on this stage either. In the end, after just under eight minutes of “net” racing, only 49 hundredths of a second separated them in favour of Ivartnik. Third place went to Jernej Kavčič (MBK Črni Vrh), 2.44 behind the winner.
The last stage was won by Tim Krašovec (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase), fourth overall. Fifth place in the overall classification of the long course went to a guest from cross-country, young Tine Terpin (MBK Črni Vrh).
Even More Intense in Women’s Race
The first favourite was the U17 rider Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem), who in the SloEnduro series usually records faster stage times than the older riders. But another U17 rider Eva Terpin (Rajd Ljubljana), a cross-country rider on a full-suspended cross-country bike, 4th at the European Championships, was not going to pass on her victory from last year’s Golovec race.
Nežka won the first stage with a lead of almost seven seconds, but then messed it up on the second so Eva led the standings by a second. In the third stage, Eva was just under two seconds faster and consolidated her lead. In the last, Nežka attacked and crashed, so Eva won by 19 seconds. Third place went to Teja Cerar (Golovec Trails), winner of the older category.
E-bike and Short Course
The fastest on the e-bike was Tadej Tekavčič (Golovec Trails), who also won the additional stage for this category, the “power stage” loop.
The shorter course (the first three stages) was also intense. In the end, Ažbe Bizjan won the U15 category in the Golovec Trails triple victory, while Gal Novak (Rajd Ljubljana) was the fastest in the U13 category.
All Enduro Golovec Trails results are here (scroll down)
The Festival
There were again quite a few spectators along the course, even if they got their shoes a bit dirty. Throughout the day it was also lively in the car park of the Urban Ring Hotel on Dolenjska cesta, where there was an event area with free bike testing, exhibitors, a stand with Golovec Trails merch and of course refreshments. At the end, there was a loud welcome for all the fastest riders who made it to the podium.
As mentioned, the Ljubljana MTB Weekend continues on Saturday 28th in Bike Park Ljubljana. For a detailed timetable, please visit www.ljubljanamtbvikend.si.
Kočevje and Grožnjan, Here We Come
The SloEnduro series has two more races to go: the fifth race will take place on 28 and 29 September at the MTB Trail Center Kočevje, and the final two weeks later, on 12 and 13 October in Grožnjan, Croatia. Details in the calendar
Photos by Anže Petkovšek
