Everything is set in Nova Gorica for the start of the 14th season of the SloEnduro series, the Slovenian series in the mountain biking discipline of enduro. The second edition of the SloEnduro TCS Nova Gorica race, taking place this weekend, April 18 and 19, has—with a little help from the European e-MTB Enduro Tour—also secured record attendance in the series’ history: there are currently 349 participants on the list.
299 riders without electric assistance and 50 in two categories on e-bikes, which also count toward the European e-MTB Enduro Tour.
The race is organized by the Nova Gorica-based TCS Mountain Bike Trail Builders Association, which also manages the trails above the Soča River: on Škabrijel, Skalnica, and in the surrounding area.
Revised, Refined Stages
There are six different special stages prepared for the race, plus two additional “power stages” for the e-MTB categories.
The tracks for all special stages have been redesigned since last year’s event and run differently, although the starts and finishes are generally in the same locations. The first stage of the long course on the Piazza Direct trail has even been significantly extended at the top—by a good two minutes—making it the longest stage of the race, with a duration of over six minutes.
Five stages are on the left bank of the Soča River on the slopes of Škabrijel and Skalnica, while the sixth is on the right bank below Sabotin. There, right next to the Soča River—near the cycling bridge and across from the Solkan Kayak Center, where the event venue is located—are also both power stages for the e-MTB category.
The technical “power stages,” which are mostly uphill, will take place on Saturday after the training session and are easily accessible to spectators.
On the long course with six stages, participants will accumulate a total of 1,420 meters of elevation gain. The elite category of the European E-MTB Cup will accumulate even more—a total of 1,990 meters (excluding the “power stage” sections)—as they will repeat the first and second stages of the long course.
More details on the courses for all categories
Strong Field
Virtually everyone from the top of last year’s SloEnduro series final standings is coming, and the list of names in the elite e-MTB category is also impressive.
Last year’s overall winner, Hungarian Áron Babó, has moved up from the junior to the elite category along with some of the fastest Slovenian riders (Maks Struna, Jakob Lorber, Van Prosenik, Tian Pečnik, Vid Berlot…), and all are among the registered. Last year’s winner in Nova Gorica, Ľuboš Staňo of Slovakia, and Slovenian champion Vid Peršak will also be at the start. The only rider missing from last year’s top ten men is number two, Miha Smrdel, who decided to undergo surgery on an old wrist injury after last season and is not yet ready to race. There are many Austrians and Italians, the latter including Mirco Vendemmia, Daniel Tortora, and Matteo Melloni (all from AB Gravity Team), who are among the fastest at home and also successful internationally.
42 elite and another 41 junior men, who are always eager to compete for the prestigious spots on the top five steps of the men’s overall long course result list. This category was bolstered by last year’s fastest U17 riders: Lenart Sever, Aljaž Prosen, and Nik Potočan. The juniors are also competing for spots on the national team. Another 58 riders in the masters categories are joining the battle for the overall on the long course, led by serial winner Nejc Huth.
In the women’s division, the top favorite is the junior world champion Nežka Libnik, undefeated in SloEnduro’s long course races. Waiting to capitalize on any mistakes she makes are Slovakian Valentina Grendova, who finished second in Nova Gorica last year, Italian Gaia Asaro, and four of Libnik’s compatriots.
List of registered riders
Stars on e-bikes
In the elite e-bike category of the European e-MTB Enduro Tour, there is a lineup of big names the likes of which we haven’t seen on Slovenian soil since the Enduro World Cup in Koroška. Frenchman Adrien Dailly, the reigning world champion in e-MTB enduro, his compatriot Remy Absalon, one of the fastest enduro riders of the past decade, Poland’s Slawomir Lukasik, the e-MTB enduro world runner-up and last year’s winner of three World Cup enduro races (without the “e”) … and many other factory team riders.
In the women’s elite category, the top favorite is Florencia Espineira, a Spaniard who now holds Italian citizenship and is the most successful rider in the history of e-MTB enduro.
The Slovenian contingent among the e-MTB elite will also be intriguing: Jan Markič, an experienced e-bike rider; veterans Kristijan Medvešček and Nejc Rutar; last year’s SloEnduro No. 7, Tim Jež; and former national downhill champion, the versatile Tilen Leban!
List of registered riders in the e-MTB categories
What’s New in SloEnduro?
The most notable change is that, for the first time, amateur category riders will not tackle the long course but rather the one with one stage fewer, which is the course for U17 categories. This time, they’ll save themselves 440 meters of elevation gain—and no one has complained. This is now the true entry-level category for advancing to the elite or masters categories.
The second change is a restriction for the youngest riders in the under-13 category. Clipless pedals will no longer be permitted for them. With flat pedals, young riders develop proper bike-handling technique; a similar rule is already in place in the SloXcup cross-country series.
More details on the rule changes in a separate post
Where and When
The main venue, featuring the start, finish, awards ceremony, and team camps, is at the Solkan Kayak Center.
Most of the racing takes place on the left bank of the Soča River, while the final special stage of all courses and Saturday’s power stages will be held on the right bank.
Saturday’s practice will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and at 6:20 p.m. the first competitor on an e-MTB will start the first “power stage.” Two stages for the elite category and only the first for the open category. Start intervals of 30 seconds. Expected to finish by 7:15 p.m.
On Sunday, the first riders in the elite e-MTB category will roll out at 9:20 a.m. The first special stages comes alive at 10. Due to the large number of participants, start intervals will be 20 seconds. The last arrivals at the finish are scheduled for around 4:30 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 5:00 p.m.
The start list with start times will follow!
Details in propositions
Photos from SloEnduro TCS Nova Gorica 2025 by Matej Lovrič
