What a breathtaking climax to the 2026 season! On Saturday, September 26, at exactly 07:30:00 AM, the crates opened in Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic) for the absolute icing on the cake: the Super Final over 631 kilometers.
And what a race it turned out to be. No free gifts, no lucky shots, just a hard-fought battle where only the true endurance athletes remained standing.
The latest status as of Monday, September 28 at 07:00 AM leaves no room for doubt: this Super Final was one for the history books.
The Race & Conditions: A Battle in the Skies
At release in Mlada Boleslav, conditions were crisp (8 degrees Celsius) with partly cloudy skies and excellent visibility of 19 km. Temperatures rose along the route up to 23 degrees Celsius. Although the sky stayed clear and sunny along the entire trajectory, the real challenge lay in the wind:
First 450 km: A steady headwind (SE) at 2 to 8 km/h. Final 180 km: A tricky crosswind (W) blowing from the side at 6 km/h.
Fighting a headwind over the first section and a crosswind in the finale forced these young athletes to dig deep for more than 630 kilometers. That resilience showed clearly in the arrival times: the very first birds arrived after more than 10 and a half hours on the wing, dropping in just before nightfall on the first day!
The Heroes of the Super Final: Spotlight on the Top 10
Only 10 pigeons managed to reach the home loft in Dakovo on the day of release. These are the true gladiators deserving eternal glory:
Unique Figures & Statistics (What Others Missed!)
A deep dive into the official results reveals several fascinating facts that highlight just how extraordinary this race was:
The Lightning Fast ‘Night Break’:
The 10th-place bird (Chris Hebberecht) arrived Saturday evening at 19:05:02. The 11th-place bird (Miha Sovic) clocked in early the next morning at 06:39:54. That means arrivals resumed almost immediately at daybreak!
Goran Gusak’s Unbelievable Loft Dominance:
While many focus solely on the top 10, look at Goran Gusak’s overall performance across the board: he not only secured 2nd place on the day of release, but on the second morning clocked 16th, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 32nd, 36th, 51st, 56th, 72nd, 87th, and 93rd! That is an astounding 12 pigeons in the top 100, a masterclass in long-distance racing power!
Sweden in the Top 10:
With Eko & Goran Team finishing 6th, the Swedish flag shines bright in Southern Europe, an outstanding achievement for a bird adapted to Northern racing conditions.
A True International Podium:
The top 10 features fanciers from 6 different nations: Croatia, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and Slovenia.
Goran Gusak: The One Loft Race Specialist Dominating Search Engines
When it comes to high-level OLR performance, Goran Gusak is a household name. Fanciers searching online for top One Loft Race results continuously encounter his name at the top of the charts.
In the 2026 Derby AS Croatia Super Final, Goran proved once again why his reputation is so widely recognized. Taking 2nd place by mere seconds and following up with a massive team performance, he demonstrated that his breeding strain is built for tough distance tests. Adding Goran Gusak bloodlines to your breeding loft means investing in proven orientation intelligence and raw stamina!
Looking Back at Season 2026: A True Test of Character
The 2026 season of Derby AS Croatia was a masterclass in professional preparation from start to finish.
Through 18 training tosses and 5 testing Hotspots (150 to 350 km), these young athletes were systematically prepared for the severe distance tests ahead. After a demanding 450 km Semi-Final and the 550 km Grand Final, the 631 km Super Final served as the ultimate graduation exam.
The geography of Slavonia, wide, open plains around Dakovo where heat and wind test every wing, leaves no room for hiding in a flock. Winners here are never accidental; they are elite athletes with steel determination and sharp mental direction.
Why Derby AS Croatia Is 100% Pigeon Boss Approved
We stand firmly behind our standards: Derby AS Croatia belongs among the absolute elite One Loft Races in Europe. Under the passionate leadership of Petar Brlosic, this event represents everything modern pigeon racing should be:
Fairness & Total Transparency: Advanced BENZING Live electronic clocking systems record every arrival down to the millisecond.
World-Class Care: Top-tier nutrition from Vanrobaeys paired with expert veterinary supervision from Vet-Schroeder-Tollisan ensures equal opportunities for every bird.
Prime Facilities: Located on a scenic hill in Dakovo, free from high-voltage obstacles and benefiting from natural airflow.
Hands-On Leadership: Petar Brlosic manages the lofts with authentic passion and absolute commitment to the birds and participants alike.
Get Ready for the Season 2026 Auctions & Look Ahead to 2027!
Now that the battle in the AS Arena has concluded, the next exciting chapter begins: the official auction of the 2026 race performers!
This is the ultimate opportunity for ambitious breeders to acquire proven athletes tested under demanding European race conditions. Whether you are targeting the winning bloodlines of Vladimir Zec or the proven strain of Goran Gusak, keep a close eye on the auction listings!
Mark your calendar for 2027: Derby AS Croatia continues to set higher standards year after year. If you want your birds competing for prestige and major prize money on a fair, world-class stage in 2027, make sure you secure your entries early!
Congratulations to all the champions of the 2026 Super Final!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
