The first season of the Slovenian downhill series under the name 20chocolate Downhill Cup will come to a close on 8 October with the fourth round in the Bike Park Pohorje above the city of Maribor.
If there is no race on the legendary Mariborsko Pohorje track, which has been a staple of Slovenian downhill for a quarter of a century, then there is something missing from the season. This year we get it too. Under the name Kenda DH Pohorje 2023, it will close the season of the 20chocolate Downhill Cup series on 8 October.
Pohorje was the venue of the last home Cup race (and National Championship) in 2020. Last year it hosted the iXS European Downhill Cup race and the European Championship, and the year before that the World Cup race (we didn’t write ‘the last one’ for a reason).
Like all races in the series, it will be a one-day event with the opportunity to get to know the course the day before, on Saturday.
World Cup track
The World Cup track will be slightly shorter than the classic course. It starts at Špelcin Log, on the ski slope after the former first forest section. A few turns in the open and you’re in the forest, ending with the infamous “Rock’n’Roll”. The rest of the track is known.
The official length of the shortened route is 1660 m with an altitude difference of 364 m.
In the standings
Peca, Soriška planina, Sljeme … who will be on top after the final race in Maribor?
Among the men’s elite, Luka Berginc (from the home team DH Visit Pohorje) is unbeatable after winning all three races, just 20 points short of the maximum score. Enej Podlipnik (Bikehanic Lumar) and Gašper Jurečič (DGK Pohorje – Spank Team) will compete for second place, assuming that fourth-placed Jan Cimperman (MTB Trbovlje) remains on the injured list.
Also in the women’s category, Tina Smrdel (MBK Črni Vrh) is unstoppable with a win, one second and one third place.
It could be tense among the juniors – Maks Oblak (Supersnurf) has 490 points, second-placed Maj Babačič (Calcit Bike Team) has 10 less and third-placed Nino Popović (Rajd Ljubljana) 27 less than the leader.
Among the U17 men, Matej Osolin (Calcit Bike Team) is safer at the top, if 61-point advantage over Ažbe Kalinšek (Wolf Racing Team by Wheelbase), the winner of the first two races, who missed Sljeme for the Rookies Cup series, is enough.
All the series standings
For supporters
As part of the Slovenia Cycling »Let’s Ride Bikes« programme, an e-bike tour will be organised on Saturday. Participation is free and for details follow the 20chocolate Downhill Cup and the organiser’s announcements.