Wet but predominantly smiling. Tina Smrdel and Vid Peršak take round three of the series.
After record numbers of riders in Ajdovščina and Ilirska Bistrica, over 200 riders showed up on a rainy weekend in Mežica, Koroška, Slovenia as well. After we lost some during Saturday’s training, 194 riders representing seven countries came on start on Sunday morning.
The decision to adapt the courses because of wet condition proved to be good. The number of special stages on long and short course remained the same, four and three respectively, but will less climbing and descending. The youngest riders of U13 category were left with just one special stage this time. Most of the shorter stages remained well rideable under the rain. The organizing crew of the inaugural SloEnduro Perkmandeljc proved themselves just as well and were rewarded with smiles and praise.
The return of Vid Peršak
The Slovenian champion Vid Peršak (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) sat on his bike on the training day after taking a break of almost a month and a half after the World Cup races in Tasmania because of Achilles tendon problems. The local from Koroška couldn’t afford to miss this race even if the start list looked anything but easy.
Tarmo Ryynänen (Specialized Nordic) of Finland, the second placed from last year’s race in Grožnjan, took the lead after SS1 by just under 1.5 seconds in front of Peršak. Nejc Huth (Energijateam.com) was third. Peršak hit back in SS2 and took the lead in front of Ryynänen. The series leader Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) moved into third.
The top three remained the same all the way to the finish with the gaps growing. After just over 10 minutes of racing time Peršak took the win 39 seconds ahead of Ryynänen in second and 1:16 from Smrdel in third. Peršak also took the win in SS4, the Spar Online SuperStage, the longest of the day.
Huth finished fourth and the Austrian Timmy Fockenberger (Radwerker) fifth after taking 3rd place in SS2. Miha Jerkič (KK Črn trn) was the fastest junior of the day in 6th place overall.
This was Peršak’s first SloEnduro appearance this year so his win didn’t have an effect on the top of the series standings. Smrdel remains in the lead with 1050 points for two wins and a third place, Huth is second with 690 and Jerkič third with 630 points.
Women
The defending SloEnduro champion Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) who had to settle for second place in first two rounds behind Simona Kuchynkova of Slovakia, made sure the victory remained in Slovenia this time. She won all four special stages including the Spar Online SuperStage and won with a gap of over a minute ahead of second placed Austrian Alexandra Eckert (Bikeclub Giant Stattegg). Maša Komel (KK Črn trn) was happy with third, her first ever SloEnduro podium.
Tina Smrdel also took the series lead from Kuchynkova who is now in second place and Tamara Homar (ŠKD Super potencial) is third.
In long course categories
With Jerkič being the fastest junior once again in 6th overall, the second junior Jan Polovšak (Bosch Black Hole Enduro Team) finished just 12 second and two places down. Maj Babačič (Calcit Bike Team) and the series standings after three out of seven rounds are the same for the top three.
Primož Štrancar (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) from Master 2 category was the fastest master rider in 18th place overall. The Master 2 winner Paul Heimel (MK Factory Racing Team) of Austria finished just two places down. Martin Brus (Kamplc Racing Team) won the Master 3 once again. The amateur category winner Blaž Polovšak (Bosch Black Hole Enduro Team) finished in 21st overall.
Vid Planko won the e-bike category after winning all the special stages including the uphill »power stage«.
Another drama filled short course race
Just like in Moto2, the youngsters on the short course provided another exciting race. In his first appearance of the season Ažbe Kalinšek (Wolf Racing by Wheelbase) beat the Hungarian Áron Babó (FRO Racing) for the win by 1.37 seconds and Maks Struna (KK Završnica) finished third. Ian Laharnar (Kamplc) who finished in 9th keeps the series lead. The winner of round one Matija Ferjančič (Kamplc) is injured, winner of round two dirke Anže Kofjač (Završnica) won SS1 and finished back in 14th place… It’s an interesting category!
Nežka Libnik (Bosch Black Hole Enduro Team) took a convincing win in female U17 category from Ana Inkret (Calcit) and Eva Zala Stergar (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team). Jakob Praček (Kamplc) won the U15 boys to prove his series lead. Vita Vaner (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) was the sole U15 girls rider.
Klemen Krivic won the international 4Fun category.
And the youngest…
The under 13 offspring didn’t mind racing just one special stage this time. Gal Palčič (Rajd Ljubljana) won in the boys class and Eva Podvornik (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) faced no competition in girls.
All SloEnduro Perkmandeljc results here
Series standings after three rounds
Coming up next…
Round four is knocking on the door. The registration for SloEnduro Cilenca, taking place in Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia, on May 27/28, is open. Propositions and registration here
Photos by Matej Lovrič @obalnabikescena
