After a successful August race in Apače, the Pumpaj Slovenija – Telekom Slovenije cup moves to Gorenjska (Upper Carniola), kicking off a hot autumn on Slovenian pump tracks. The race is organised by the Strmol Recreational Society (Rekreacijsko društvo Strmol), while the Cycling Federation of Slovenia will provide the Grbine so fine (Bumps Are Fine) children's side programme.
Will the record fall?
Cerklje na Gorenjskem boasts one of the largest pump tracks in Slovenia, which has been operating for five years. On a riding surface of 370 m2, a lap is 140 metres long, and the fastest time of 13.65 seconds belongs to Jan Manfredo, who is still competing in the younger juniors category this year. Mario Markotić, last year's winner in the elite category, came close with 13.80 seconds, while Maja Turk won the women's race.
What will happen this year? Pump track is a young urban mountain-bike discipline in which the best mountain bike and BMX riders usually battle it out. The standard of racing is rising, and Slovenian riders, both women and men, have proved several times at qualifying races for the World Championships that they can reach the very top – what's more, Katja Stupar (Rajd Ljubljana) has qualified this year for the World Championships, which will be held in South Africa in November.
A skills course for the youngest again this time
The competition day, on the first Saturday of September, will begin with free practice for the youngest riders under 11 at 13.00, and the older riders will try out the bumps half an hour later. After practice, all competitors under the age of 11 will complete their qualifiers on a skills course. We first tried out this new feature, which gives the youngest a longer sporting programme, in Apače. The children themselves dispelled all doubts and, in the very first of two attempts, successfully proved that they are also ready to ride the bumps.
Qualifiers for the older riders begin at 15.00, with the climax of the competition at 17.00. Depending on the time available, the youngest riders up to 11 will complete two or three runs; at the earliest stage of young cyclists' development, cycling is not about results, and everyone receives an award.
The older riders will compete in knockout heats. We will announce the winners at 19.00.
All children are welcome at Grbine so fine – free of charge!
On race day, instructors from the Cycling Federation of Slovenia will run the Grbine so fine children's programme free of charge. Through fun challenges, children get used to basic bike-handling skills and, above all, safe riding. And perhaps some of them will be tempted to join us at one of the next races in the coming weeks?
Registration for the Grbine so fine programme will be open on race day from 15.00 to 17.10. The first group of children will take on the five challenges at 15.45.
Autumn Greeting with Gorenjska Carnations – and pumping!
The municipal holiday in memory of the actor Ignacij Borštnik, who was born in Cerklje, is not actually celebrated until 23 September, but entertainment, cultural and sporting events take place for several days beforehand. The Pumpaj Slovenija – Telekom Slovenije race will therefore be part of the Autumn Greeting with Gorenjska Carnations (Pozdrav jeseni z gorenjskimi nageljni), which will take place under the Jenko’s Lime Tree (Jenkova lipa) throughout the weekend.
Alongside the racing on the bumps, there will also be a family run at 16.00 and a demonstration by Karate klub Cerklje at 17.45. Ribič Pepe will perform at 18.00, and Čuki will round off the evening at 20.00.
So there is something for everyone – and that's not all. In the second half of September, the Cycling Federation of Slovenia is also organising a sports day for all the fourth-grade classes at Davorin Jenko Primary School in Cerklje na Gorenjskem.
Register now!
Pre-registration on Prijavim.se (opens in a new tab) is open until midnight on Thursday, 5 September. The entry fee is €15, or €20 if you register on the day of the competition. Competitors without a racing licence must obtain a one-day licence when registering, but this time, thanks to the organiser RD Strmol, it is already included in the entry fee.
Four more races until the end of the pump track season
We can finally reveal the rest of this year's Pumpaj Slovenija – Telekom Slovenije season calendar. After the races in Apače and Cerklje na Gorenjskem, a lively October awaits us with no fewer than three races, two of them at well-known venues, and the season will end with a cup race that will also serve as the national championship, at a venue we will be able to reveal shortly.
Upcoming races:
- 7 September: Cerklje na Gorenjskem
- 5 October: Vrhnika
- 12 October: Zagorje ob Savi
- 19 October: National Championship (venue to be announced soon).
