It’s been a few weeks since the Kamplc SloEnduro Day in Ajdovščina, where we check the bikes and riders before the season. Now it’s time for some real racing – this weekend, on 12-13 April, the 2025 season of the SloEnduro series kicks off in Nova Gorica with the SloEnduro TCS Nova Gorica (Borderless Edition).
Last year, the TCS club from Nova Gorica tried their hand at organising their first ever SloEnduro Day and they exceeded all expectations. They have been even more committed to organising this year’s event and we dare say that the participants will have one of the most beautiful courses in the history of the series. The long course features six special stages with 1350 vertical metres of climbing. On both banks of the Soča River and in two countries.
The Field
Speaking of participants, there are a record 291 riders from 9 countries registered at the moment! Among the men, virtually all the fastest riders from the last few years are here, with the exception of the current national champion and SloEnduro winner Vid Peršak, who has not yet got a new bike. The fastest Slovenians will be challenged by the fast Austrians and Slovaks, the Croatian champion Fran Bošnjak and others. The juniors will surely be at the top too. There are 11 women registered with last year’s champion and SloEndro champion Maša Komel (427 Savage Squad) leading the way. The real Soča battlefield is expected among the U17 men with 54 entries, the U15 boys with 38 entries and the youngest masters with 30 entries. The e-bike category will also be exciting with 16 riders and Jan Markič and Kristijan Medvešček among them.
List of entries on prijavim.se
Last year’s SloEnduro Day
Attractions on Both Banks of the Soča River
The event venue will be in the Solkan Kayak Centre, which offers everything a SloEnduro race needs. The passionate builders from the TCS association have also fixed up trails on the nearby Škabrijel, Skalnica and Sabotin, as well as some new ones.
Here’s a walk through the stages …
The long course (and the U15/4Fun course) starts with a climb up to Škabrijel and a special stage on the Drita na plac (Straight to Square) trail. The trail has been redesigned, is smoother and offers more speed and enjoyment. This is followed by a climb back to the roundabout below Skalnica and a short special stage called Črni maček (Black Cat). A bit downhill, but not too hard. Immediately followed by the third one, the Gams (Chamois), known from last year’s SloEnduro day.
Then a longer climb again and it’s time for the fourth stage, the longest, most interesting, physically and technically demanding – Bataljonka will be the Shimano SuperStage this time. Reserved for the long course categories and the U17 category. With flatter and steeper sections, over boulders … It got its name because it was here that the worst battles of the Soča Front took place in the First World War. Then it’s downhill to the valley on the fifth stage, the lower part of Kraljica (the Queen). This is completely new in the first part, but then it is the same as last year’s SloEnduro Day, until the new exit.
Then cross the Soča River over a cycle bridge not far from the Kayak Centre and climb up towards Sabotin. Here, the e-bike category has its own power stage in the adventure park. This one has only 44 metres of climbing, but it is very technical. The sixth and last stage, called IX Corps, leads from the Briška road from Italian territory, literally descending through switchbacks from Italy to Slovenia and back, and back to Slovenia again … The last section to the finish at the Solkan bridge is new.
Of course, only selected trials are completed on shorter routes. More detailed description of the courses here.
For spectators
On foot or by other transportation from the Kayak Centre, you can watch the first and fourth stage on the left bank in succession (with some walking). Especially the fourth one will be really attractive in the middle part, in the forest, where the course goes over boulders.
On the right bank, a walk from the Kayak Centre will take you to the attractive power stage in the adventure park, and then the last stage in the immediate vicinity. With a bit of organisation and transport (or a bike), you can follow the highlights on both sides of the Soča.
Cross-border
Cross-border is not only the sixth edition of the event, but also the participation of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025. SloEnduro and TCS are thus joining the project of the City of Nova Gorica.
Schedule
The events will follow the established schedule. On Saturday training round from 11:00, on Sunday start of the first competitor from the Kayak Centre at 9:30. The exact schedule of starts for the special stages follows.
Details in the propositions
The weather is expected to remain dry for the rest of the week, with sunny weather on Saturday with temperatures around 20 degrees, and cloudy conditions on Sunday with a degree or so less.
Live timing on Sunday
TCS crew is waiting!
Photos by Matej Lovrič / Obalna bike scena
