Not only the Pug and the Rogue, but mountain biking has a bright future too.

Blaž Kavčič and Vita Movrin have emerged as the new national champions in mountain biking following a two-day competition held in Kočevje over the weekend. The event was marked by challenging weather conditions on Saturday, with heavy rain disrupting the course, but Sunday saw improved conditions, allowing for a successful and competitive race day. The competition featured intense battles for gold medals and included the wearing of the Slovenian tricolor jersey for the year. The European Championships will serve as the first major highlight of the season later this month, hosted by Switzerland. The competition took place in Kočevje, where athletes faced varying challenges due to the weather. On Saturday, the rain made for difficult riding conditions, but by Sunday, the track had dried out, enabling a more favorable environment for competitors. Blaž Kavčič, a member of KK Završnica, faced strong competition from multiple-time national champion Rok Naglič (Calcit) and road cyclists from the Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana, including Mihael and Gašper Štajnar. These athletes demonstrated their prowess across all disciplines, showing they are at the top of their game in Slovenia. Kavčič, who turned 20 during the competition, secured his victory in the Olympic distance category after a close battle with Naglič and Štajnar. He described the conditions as ideal and expressed his enjoyment of the race. Despite initial uncertainty about his performance after the cross-country race on Saturday and some stomach issues, he managed to push through on the final climb to secure the win. Kavčič is set to compete at the European Championships in two weeks, followed by the World Championships in August. In the women's category, Vita Movrin (Sunn Factory Racing) was the favorite heading into the competition. However, she faced stiff competition from Maruša Tereza Šerkezi (Cube Factory Racing), the current junior world champion. Despite these challenges, Movrin secured her victory with a two-minute and thirty-second lead. She emphasized the importance of focusing on her own performance rather than her competitors, noting that her recent results in Andorra were a positive indicator of her form. Movrin aims to carry this momentum into the European Championships, followed by another World Cup race and the World Championships. Other notable performances included Eva Terpin (Rajd Ljubljana), who won her category despite a punctured tire, and Maks Majnik (Calcit), who secured a strong position among male competitors in the U19 category. Among amateurs, Tim Markelj emerged victorious, while Peter Vesel, a veteran competitor, claimed the title in the veterans' category. Andraž Vehovar, president of the Slovenian Cycling Federation, praised the organizers for creating a successful event despite the adverse weather conditions in Kočevje. He highlighted the growing popularity of mountain biking in Slovenia, comparing its development to that of road cycling. Vehovar noted the potential for the sport ahead of the 2028 Olympics, expressing confidence in the future of both men's and women's categories. His leadership has been positively received since taking charge of the federation.