Tina Smrdel and Miha Smrdel take the SloEnduro series final in Ajdovščina, Slovenia. 170 riders at 12th edition of Slovenia’s oldest enduro race.
End of the summer drought, showers and storms in the weekend’s weather forecast, so some riders may have decided to pass the final race. Plus the Austrians were missed since they held their National Championships race in Tirol this weekend. But the attendance at the final round of tenth season of SloEnduro series, the classic Kamplc race in Ajdovščina, was good: around 170 riders from seven countries showed up.
The riders and their teams kept checking the rain radar updates all weekend. On Saturday showers struck soon after the training started, but only hit the two Western stages, not the ones on the East. These remained dry for a long time so the riders were surprised when meeting in transfer in town, some muddy and the others still dusty.
The conditions were hard on the otherwise easy Kamplc stage so this stage was cancelled for Sunday’s race for the short course and the U13 course. But the long course remained unchanged with four special stages (the shortest S5 was already cancelled on Friday with the course announcement).
There was more rain overnight from Saturday to Sunday, then on Sunday morning and during the race. The trails were slippery but the mud didn’t stick on bikes too much so the conditions were somewhat solid.
The fastest
The duel for men’s overall title came down to the final but it was pretty much decided during Saturday’s training. The series leader David Ivartnik (Golovec trails) dislocated his shoulder in a crash but still raced on Sunday. But he was in pain and could only finish in 19th place which brough him enough points to finish second overall. Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) won the race and in won his second SloEnduro title in his second junior year.
Smrdel won the first three stages and Luka Berginc (DH Visit Pohorje) won the last one. Berginc, a former downhill National Champion who has not been racing since June due to a concussion, has been on Smrdel’s heels all day and finished second just 4.67 down.
Kristijan Medvešček (ŠKTD Avče) surprised with the third place (and three 3rd places on stages), the first SloEnduro champion from 2013 who made his return after more than five season away from races with 11th place at National Championships in July.
Two more riders on the five men overall podium were the top masters rider Sebastjan Stres (Kamplc racing team) in fourth and Nejc Huth (Energijateam.com) in fifth place. The sixth place Miha Jerkič (KK Črn trn), the second placed junior, was the last one to finish the four special stages with the time of less than 20 minutes.
No change in third place overall: Jan Štucin (Pedal racing team) finished in 7th place and so defended the series podium from Jan Markič (ŠKTD Avče) who finished in 9th place.
Women
Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) entered the Kamplc race at ease since she already had the overall title secured. But she still wanted another win and the Czech rider Andrea Drengubakova (Galaxy Ciklošvenc Stevens) was the only one standing in her way. Drengubakova win the first stage but by just over half a second and Smrdel took it from there, won the rest of the stages and the overall by over half a minute. Drengubakova finished second and Tina’s teammate Maja Vojska third.
Drengubakova and Miha Smrdel took the victories on the Kenda SuperStage, the SS1 – Muzej (Museum).
Categories
Miha Smrdel was the fastest U19 junior of the day in front of Miha Jerkič and Jernej Kavčič (MBK Črni Vrh). Luka Berginc was the fastest elite man. Sebastjan Stres won in masters 1, Primož Štrancar (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) in masters 2 and Martin Brus (Kamplc racing team) in masters 3. Stefano Varnerin (ASD Federclub Trst) was the fastest amateur riders on the long course.
On the short course Lovro Kojzek (KK Ravne) won his second U17 men race of the season and Ian Laharnar (Kamplc) his first U15 race. Kaja Berginc (Rajd Ljubljana) was the only U17 girl attending and Nežka Libnik (Bosch Black Hole Enduro Team) once again won the women’s U15 race.
On the shortest U13 course Janez Praček (Kamplc) remained unbeaten in all six races of the newly established category.
All results
All final rankings
Coming next …
It’s over with the points series for 2022. This year the final award presentational will be held along with other mountain bike and BMX disciplines at an after season Slovenia Cycling event.
But that does not mean you can’t race under the SloEnduro roof any more this year! On September 18 the Golovec trails enduro will be held, a promotional event for the series and part of Ljubljana MTB Vikend festival. Find the propositions and registration here.
Photos by Matej Lovrič / obs.si
