By winning third round of SloEnduro series, Soča Enduro in Bovec, Peter Mlinar takes the series lead.
Peter Mlinar (Črn trn/Blackthorn) is the winner of third round of SloEnduro series, the Soča Enduro in Bovec, Slovenia. In overall ranking he was followed by two Austrians: Gerd Skant (Giant Stattegg) in second and Manfred Morokutti in third place.
In difficult rainy conditions only 44 riders from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia took off from Bovec square.
Pero Mlinar already won two 4Fun series one-day races this year and is leading the SloEnduro feeder series ranking. But this is only the second “big league” victory for the 23-year old from Žerjav in Koroška region after a home win in Black Hole Enduro two years ago. Peter is now also leading the SloEnduro series standings.
But Mlinar only took control of the race in the fifth and last stage of the day. Skant, the leader after four stages, crashed in the last turn of the urban stage finishing on Bovec square where the race started in the morning and lost precious seconds. In the end, after more than 13 minutes of race time, Mlinar who also almost came to a stop in the same corner, celebrated the victory with less than two seconds over second placed Skant.
This is what Mlinar had to say after the victory: “It was hard to start in the rain in the morning, the stages are difficult enough as it is. But in the end it was not the bad on the trails. It was my first race here and I liked it a lot. The stages were great, some of the best ever. I enjoyed the transfers as well, only the first one was harder.”
Four winners in five stages
It was an intense day under Mt. Kanin. After Saturday’s practice runs the riders started in rain on Sunday morning. But the rain stopped during second stage and later the sun came out. The trails remained wet and in some places slippery. In the end the organizers managed to hold the fifth stage on the streets. It would have been too tricky in the wet.
Skant won the longest first stage, the Kenda SuperStage. SloEnduro rookie Matej Vitko (Peksport Specialized) of Slovakia was fastest in second and fourth, held on the same course (the original 2nd stage was cancelled due to a conflict for transfer permits). Tadej Razpet (Pedal Racing Team) won the third stage, held on the other side of the valley – Tade was holding second place until flatting in stage 4. Anže Žabjek (Rajd Trek), 4th overall, won the short urban stage number 5.
We were looking forward to Austrian duel in women’s category between Yana Dobnig (RLM Mondraker) in Petra Bernhardt (RC Gravity Eagles). But Petra got sick and didn’t get on her bike in the morning. Therefore Yana took 400 points without a battle and is now leading the series standings alone.
Slovenian Matjaž Istenič (Energijateam.com) was the fastest junior once again. Masters victories went to Austrians Morokutti in Masters 1 and Cri Maierhofer (Radlager) in Masters 2 while Slovak Jakub Stank was the fastest in hobby class.
Mlinar took the lead in series standings since leader Daniel Schemmel (Cube Action Team) and second placed Vid Peršak (Gaes Orbea Enduro Crew) missed the race. So Peter will be defending the lead at round four on July 29th and 30th in his home valley at Black Hole Enduro. There is another 4Fun race in the calendar before that, the EnduRogla on July 9th.
Soča Enduro Overall Results
Soča Enduro Categories Results
In cover photo: Mlinar in final stage on streets of Bovec, all photos by Ma_Tej
