The 2025 IAU Balkan Express Cup reached its dramatic conclusion on 8 November 2025 at the Zagreb 12HR “Highway to Hell”, the final event of this year’s series. The race weekend featured 6-hour and 12-hour solo distances as well as a 12-hour relay, attracting ultrarunners from across Europe for one last battle before the Cup standings were finalised.
Highlights from Zagreb 12HR
In the main 12-hour event, Michal Šuľa (Slovakia) claimed victory with 152 km, followed by Luka Videtič (Slovenia) in second place and Serhii Popov (Ukraine) in third.
Among the women, Lena Bahat (Croatia) delivered a standout performance, winning the women’s 12-hour race with 137.5 km, while Neža Mravlje (Slovenia, AK S12R) placed 4th overall with 117.955 km.
The 6-hour race was won by Jacek Dudek (Poland) with 84.889 km, narrowly ahead of Danijel Hajdinjak (Slovenia, Athletics Club S12R) who clocked 81.873 km. Third place went to Stipica Bagarić (Croatia) with 81.479 km.
On the women’s side, Mirjana Šimek Bilić (Croatia) won with a distance of 78.6 km.
A major milestone came from second-place finisher Luka Videtič, who set a new Slovenian national 12-hour record with 150.7 km.
In the 12-hour relay, the Slovenian team of Maja Rigač, Valerija Mrak, and Klemen Boštar (Athletics Club S12R) took second place, finishing behind the Croatian trio Hrvoje Horvat, Sven Balen, and Silvia Šimunović.
Final Cup Standings
With Zagreb now complete, the cumulative standings for the 2025 Balkan Express Cup are confirmed.
You can view the final standings from all races here
Maja Rigac
IAU Communications Committee.
