Seven special stages on the rocks of Škabrijel, Skalnica and Sabotin, a rich field and excellent organisation of the TCS club at the opening of the racing season.
Let’s say that the SloEnduro Day in Ajdovščina three weeks ago was at least an approximate preparation for what awaited the riders at the first round of the SloEnduro series this season. Although the conditions and the rules of the game were completely different this time. The first SloEnduro TCS Nova Gorica (Borderless Edition) served up a rocky, some of it steep, six stages on Škabrijel, Skalnica and Sabotin mountains on both banks of the Soča river with a total of around 1350 vertical metres of climbing on the full course. A few drops fell during the morning start from the Solkan Kayak Centre, but still the dust continued to make the stages slippery for most of the day.
A beautiful but challenging route along the battlefields of the Soča Front in the First World War to start the 13th season of the SloEnduro series. The last test from Sabotin also made several switchbacks into Italy, justifying the title of »borderless« race and symbolically supporting the European Capital of Culture project GO! 2025. In total, just over 280 riders from nine countries took part.
The preparation of the course and the venue, as well as the overall organisation of the TCS Association, which organised such an event for the first time (last year they hosted a SloEnduro Day), was excellent and set a high bar for the next organisers.
New Era in Women’s Racing, the Nežka Era?
Nežka Libnik (KK Ravne na Koroškem), last year’s U17 champion, won her first official race in the women’s united category (junior, elite, masters) on the long course. Nežka, who had already competed on the long course in last year’s final race with the permission of the series and won then too, won all six stages over the Soča river and won the race in just under 18 minutes ‘net’, with a one and a half minute advantage over second-placed Slovak rider Valentina Grendova (MTBiker) in second place and a minute and 53 seconds ahead of the third-placed Croatian Larisa Bošnjak (BBK Šišmiš). The top three (of course there are still five riders on the podium in SloEnduro) were followed by last year’s national champion and overall SloEnduro winner Maša Komel (427 Savage Squad) in fourth and Germany’s Silja Geck (Traction Development Racing) in fifth place.
Four Countries on Men’s Podium
Champion of Slovakia Luboš Staňo (MTBiker), fourth two years ago in Ajdovščina, came back even faster to take his first SloEnduro win. On his way to it, he won the first, third and last stages, winning the overall by five seconds from Hungarian junior Áron Babó (Rad Company Racing Team), already the most successful junior in the series last year and third overall in the final standings. Babó was fastest in the 4th and 5th stages of the day. In third place was another junior, Italian Simone Leo (Gencon Racing Team), 12 seconds behind the winner.
Probably for the first time in the history of the series, there was only one Slovenian among the fastest five – the 2022 and 2023 SloEnduro winner Miha Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) finished in 4th place, 22 seconds behind the winner after winning the second stage of the day. Fifth place went to the second Slovak and Staň’s teammate Maruš Krupa, 38 seconds behind.
The Winners Said…
Nežka Libnik:
“My first official race in the women’s category went well. I went to the start thinking ‘I’ll do it my way and then it will be what it will be’. The stages were nice, but quite dry, so it was quite slippery in some sections. But it was all made easier by the good company of the girls.”
Luboš Staňo:
“I did well. After the rain in the morning, it was like riding on ice in some parts of the first stage, I made a few mistakes, I didn’t find the right speed, but I still won and that gave me a boost for the next stages. The second and third went smoothly, but I liked the fourth one the best with the steep sections. There was something for me on each one. I hope to return to SloEnduro this year, maybe for the second round. It was the perfect start to the season for me.”
In Long Course Categories
So Áron Babó and Simone Leo finished at the top of the junior standings, while Ian Laharnar (Kamplc Racing Team), a newcomer to the category and last year’s U17 champion, took third place. He was 6th fastest overall. Six juniors finished in the top ten, which could be a preview of things to come in the season. Although the last year’s elite national champion and series champion Vid Peršak, who missed the first round, will return to put things in order.
Among the youngest veterans (master 1), Nejc Huth (Energijateam.com) won, He has been at the top of SloEnduro since the first season, also has one elite win from six years ago. Primož Štrancar (MBK Črni Vrh) took the win in master 2 and Austrian Michael Strohmayer (ASKÖ MK Factory Racing Team) in master 3. The fastest amateur of the day was Stefano Braidot (UC Caprivesi), but unfortunately we don’t get his brothers to the races anymore, as they are among the best in the world in XCO.
It was also tense among the e-bikers, who had an extra ‘power stage’ stage uphill – short, but physically and technically demanding. Among the 16 participants, Jan Markič (Bradon Team), also by far the fastest in the ‘power’ stage, won the race, with Jaša Vodopivec in second place. Kristjan Medvešček, who won four of the seven stages, but was slowed down by some technical issues at the end and finished in third place.
On Shorter Courses
The battle in the under 17 male category was fierce once again, with 49 riders taking part. Žiga Munih from the newly formed home team TCS Gravity took the initiative, and then Lenart Sever (KK Črn trn) won the second to the fifth and final stage, leading after the third and finally winning the race. Also in third, Hungary’s Mátyás Csizmazia (Vesc Cycling Team) took second and stayed there until the end, Munih had to settle for third.
The only U17 woman at the start was Lana Kuzma (KK Črn trn).
In the U15 category, Tjaž Stres (Kamplc Racing Team) won over the three stages, losing only the second stage to his clubmate Rene Kovač, who was second in the end. Third place went to Erik Žgavc from the other Ajdovščina club, Črn trn.
Matjaž Koron won the 4Fun promotional category on the same course.
Vasilij Lavrenčič (KK Črn trn) won the U13 boys race on the shortest course, which consisted of two stages, while Lija Leber (427 Savage Squad) was the only girl at the start.
All results here
Shimano SuperStage
This year, the series partner Shimano is not awarding the fastest time in the most challenging, longest or otherwise special stage, which is always coloured blue. This year, it rewards creativity in video and photo posts on Instagram with the hashtag #ShimanoSuperStage2025 and @sloenduro and @shimanomtb tags. After each race, we will choose the most creative post, which must be related to the SuperStage and show the race atmosphere. At the end of the season, we will draw the winner of the Shimano prize from the seven chosen posts. Details below in the Instagram post.
See You Soon in Ilirska Bistrica
The ice is broken and we’ll be back racing quickly – in two weeks time, on 26-27 April in Ilirska Bistrica with the SloEnduro Borovci held by GKD Borovci. Propositions and registration here
Photos by Matej Lovrič / Obalna bike scena
Details on Shimano SuperStage Contest
