A week after the European Cup opening actions is back to Kranjska Gora park for Slovenia and Croatia Cup points and Slovenian national titles.
Slovenian and Croatian downhillers are back in Kranjska Gora for a DH Vitranc national series race. Besides that the Slovenians will also be battling for 2016 National Championships titles. Riders from Austria, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also on the start list. The course remains the same from last weekend’s iXS European Downhill Cup race. But it may not be as dusty this weekend.
There has been no rain (yet) and course conditions are good. There may be a storm later today but Sunday should be nice.
Today’s (Saturday) non-stop practice is from 1 to 5pm. On Sunday the semifinal starts at 11am and final at 2pm.
25th National Championships
It is the 25th National Downhill Championships race. Kranjska Gora is hosting it for 3rd time after 2004 and 2009.
Looking at the statistics of the previous editions it is all about getting even in the men’s elite category. If Jure Žabjek defends his 2015 title he will be getting even with his Unior Tools teammate Žiga Pandur and the retired Boštjan Felc and Luka Novak who each have two titles in the books. If Žiga wins he will be getting even with Miran Vauh and Jan Cestnik with three titles. If Miri takes it he will be joining Janez Grašič, the most successful Nationals races in history, with four titles.
Of course there may be another scenario.
In women’s elite category Monika Hrastnik is defending the title and hoping for her second one while Zarja Černilogar will be going for fifth. We will be getting a new champion in junior men’s class.
DH Vitranc in our calendar with all the links
National DH Champions of Slovenia 1992-2015
1992 Zalog pri Ljubljani: junior men Robert Lamovšek, elite men Jure Gantar
1993 Idrija: junior men Robert Lamovšek, elite men Boštjan Brelih
1994 Ljubno ob Savinji: junior men Matevž Bizjak, elite men Boštjan Kušar
1995 Idrija: junior men Matevž Bizjak, elite men Primož Štrancar
1996 Idrija: junior men Matevž Bizjak, elite men Janez Grašič
1997 Kranj: junior men Mitja Šorn, elite men Boštjan Felc
1998 Maribor: junior men Rok Podbevšek, elite men Janez Grašič
1999 Borovnica: junior men Luka Novak, elite men Janez Grašič
2000 Črna na Koroškem: junior men Luka Novak, elite men Janez Grašič
2001 Kamnik: junior men Boštjan Volf, elite men Boštjan Felc, women Tanja Jerman
2002 Kranj: junior men Boštjan Volf, elite men Janez Jamnik, women Tanja Jerman
2003 Trbovlje: junior men Boštjan Volf, elite men Luka Novak, women Tanja Jerman
2004 Kranjska Gora: junior men Boštjan Volf, elite men Janez Štupar, women Rebeka Barlič
2005 Črni Vrh nad Idrijo: junior men Nejc Rutar, elite men Luka Novak, women Rebeka Barlič
2006 Maribor: junior men Nejc Rutar, elite men Jan Cestnik, women Rebeka Barlič
2007 Črna na Koroškem: junior men Blaž Hölcl, elite men Jan Cestnik, women Rebeka Barlič
2008 Trbovlje: junior men Denis Paradiž, elite men Jan Cestnik
2009 Kranjska Gora: junior men Aleš Virtič, elite men Miran Vauh, women Rebeka Barlič
2010 Maribor: junior men Blaž Hölcl, elite men Nejc Rutar, women Rebeka Barlič
2011 Ivarčko: junior men Peter Mlinar, elite men Miran Vauh, women Zarja Černilogar
2012 Javornik: junior men Jure Žabjek, elite men Žiga Pandur, women Zarja Černilogar
2013 Maribor: junior men Jure Žabjek, elite men Žiga Pandur, women Zarja Černilogar
2014 Blagovica: junior men Miha Ivančič, elite men Miran Vauh, women Zarja Černilogar
2015 Javornik: junior men Luka Berginc, elite men Jure Žabjek, women Monika Hrastnik
In photo – finish area webcam snap
