Over 450 kilometres, every second must be earned. Riciozo Racing Pigeons delivered the winning performance in Race 6 of Derby AS Croatia, clocking MK26-260614 at 13:06:44.620 with a speed of 1279.3407 metres per minute.
The margin? 1 minute and 8.280 seconds ahead of Team Ekkel. Against a field of 622 pigeons, that was a clear statement of quality in the semifinal.
This report reflects the standings on 7 September 2026 at 08:00 AM. The race was still open at that moment.
A 450 Kilometre Test From Brno
The pigeons were released in Brno, Czech Republic, on 6 September at 07:15 local time, beginning their 450 kilometre journey towards the Derby lofts in Croatia.
The race report describes sunny, clear conditions throughout. Temperatures rose from 14°C at liberation to 27°C on arrival, with a daily temperature of 28°C. A light side wind of 5 km/h accompanied the pigeons over the first 200 kilometres, followed by a tailwind of 6 km/h on the final section.
Riciozo Racing Pigeons’ winner completed the journey in 5 hours, 51 minutes and 44.620 seconds. That is almost six hours of racing before the electronic clock confirmed first place.
By 08:00 the following morning, 467 of the 622 pigeons had returned, equivalent to 75.1%. The results show 433 arrivals on race day and another 34 the next morning. With the race continuing, every further return remained important.
Riciozo Leads, Goran Gusak Delivers in Numbers
The winner deserves the first spotlight. MK26-260614 gave Riciozo Racing Pigeons a convincing advantage over the chasing competitors and a semifinal victory to be proud of.
Team Ekkel secured an excellent second place with NL26-8421867, holding off Goran Gusak’s CRO26-18082 by just 4.060 seconds. A close contest for the remaining podium positions after nearly six hours on the wing.
Gusak then added fifth and sixth, placing three pigeons among the first six arrivals. That is the outstanding depth statistic at the front of this result: one fancier claimed 30% of the top ten.
Ten Places Worth Celebrating
Dream Team took fourth, while Vila Velebita, Team Opacak, Michael Naglik and Gino Clicque completed the leading ten alongside the winner, Team Ekkel and Gusak’s three arrivals.
The clock tells a fascinating story. Positions four through ten were recorded within just 3.720 seconds. Dream Team held fifth place off by one tenth of a second, while only 0.040 seconds separated Vila Velebita in seventh from Team Opacak in eighth.
Michael Naglik followed just 0.290 seconds later, with Gino Clicque completing the top ten at 13:09:04.090. Vila Velebita also secured eleventh, adding another strong arrival only 4.250 seconds outside the top ten.
From the winner to tenth place, the gap was 2 minutes and 19.470 seconds. Clear daylight at the front, then a battle decided by fractions.
Petar Brlošić and the Croatian Racing Stage
Derby AS Croatia operates from Đurđanci, near Đakovo in Slavonia, with Petar Brlošić leading the organisation. The project’s background articles describe a practical fancier involved in daily loft management, with investment in facilities and transport supporting the race.
The loft installation has been expanded to 1,700 perches, with an emphasis on air and space. The facilities include an unobstructed approach without overhead powerlines, while the project sources also describe climate controlled transport vehicles.
Those details matter when fanciers entrust their youngsters to an international race. The programme brings pigeons from different breeders together under shared management, with Vanrobaeys feed, veterinary support from Vet Schroeder Tollisan, and BENZING electronic timing.
For followers, the event also offers live coverage and access to performance information. You can follow the arrivals and see precisely how narrow the margins become. Race 6 supplied plenty of evidence of that.
A Final With Bigger Stakes Ahead
The published preparation programme begins with 18 training flights ranging from 5 to 70 kilometres, building towards the competitive races and this 450 kilometre semifinal. Race 6 therefore sits at a crucial point in the season, between the earlier tests and the longer final challenge.
The advertised 2026 programme features a 550 kilometre Grand Final, followed by an optional 620 kilometre Super Final. The published total prize fund is €60,000, including €12,000 for the Grand Final winner, with cash prizes extending to 50th position in that final.
That gives the semifinal result added interest. Riciozo Racing Pigeons has delivered a winning performance over 450 kilometres, Goran Gusak has demonstrated remarkable depth, and every other fancier in the top ten has earned a place in the conversation.
For now, congratulations belong to Riciozo Racing Pigeons and all the leading competitors. Petar’s Croatian stage has produced another compelling chapter of international pigeon racing. The distances are getting longer, the stakes are rising, and the next result must be earned all over again.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
