The new season finally got underway at the weekend. For the Rookies Cup, it was a debut in Kranjska Gora – having previously hosted the iXS EDC in the past. With perfect conditions, a great atmosphere and plenty of excitement in the air, it soon became clear that the season opener had everything needed for a fantastic race weekend.

A relaxed start

Friday was all about preparation. With the weather on their side, the riders made the most of the track walk to find the best lines and get used to the new course. Right from the start, the crew ensured a relaxed and warm welcome, whilst the anticipation for the new season was palpable throughout the paddock. Overall, the first day remained quiet – perfect for getting into the swing of things and fine-tuning the setup for the weekend.

Seeding Saturday

On Saturday, Kranjska Gora showed itself at its sunniest. With temperatures around 23 degrees, the track became dry, dusty and increasingly slippery. To top it all off, state-of-the-art technology was deployed right from the first seeding run of the year: the new transponder timing system, familiar from the Europa Cup and World Cup, ensured precise timing and a professional racing atmosphere.

On the track, Samuel Kerda (GER – RSV Dingolfing) was the standout performer. He won the Open Junior U19 Men’s seeding race by a margin of more than three seconds. In the Boys U15 class, Colin Szepesi (HUN – Cube Next Generation) dominated with an impressive ride, finishing almost five seconds ahead of the runner-up.

In the girls’ category, Charlotte Schleicher (AUT – Radunion St. Johann) from the U13/U15 group made a particularly strong statement right from the start. With a commanding performance, she took a clear lead in the women’s classes. Behind her, however, the field remained tightly bunched: several riders were separated by just a few seconds, meaning that even after the first day of racing it was clear that every little detail could prove decisive on Sunday.

Hot race day

Sunday felt more like the height of summer than the start of the season. Temperatures continued to rise, the track became increasingly dry, and the thick dust made the already long runs even more demanding. With run times of around three to four minutes, the course demanded a lot from the riders physically. Technically, the course wasn’t extremely difficult, but that was precisely what made it so challenging: anyone wanting to be fast here had to push constantly and couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

Race day vibes

The atmosphere in the finish area was electric all day long. Families, friends and lots of fans created a real racing atmosphere and cheered their favourites on loudly. It was precisely this blend of racing, community spirit and a great atmosphere that made the first RDC round of the year so special.

Results

It soon became clear in Sunday’s race who was best able to cope with the challenging conditions. Samuel Kerda confirmed the strong form he had shown in the seeding round and won his class. Alois Römer (GER – Raceteam Bikepark Samerberg) also put in an impressive performance and secured a place at the very front of the Pro U17 men’s class. However, it was Colin Szepesi from the Boys U15 class who set the fastest time of the day.

The girls were also particularly fast this weekend. Charlotte Schleicher once again set a strong fastest time, whilst the other riders also impressed with their high speed and clean runs. Despite the dusty and long track, some really fast times were recorded in the girls’ classes.

A successful start

All in all, Kranjska Gora proved to be a thoroughly successful start to the season. The first race of the year left us wanting more, offering thrilling sport and a great atmosphere throughout the paddock. The mood among the riders remained relaxed and positive throughout the weekend – exactly how one would hope for a perfect start to the new RDC season. Thank you to everyone involved who made this race something truly special!