Race: Final Race 1/3 (501.32 km)

501 KM FROM BARABÁS – THE FIRST OF THREE FINAL BATTLES

7 September 2026

The moment we had been waiting for finally arrived.

On Monday morning at 7:00 AM, the pigeons of AviRings Derby PRO were released in Barabás, a small village on the Hungarian–Ukrainian border, exactly 501 km from the loft.

We knew before the release that the conditions would test the pigeons severely. High temperatures and challenging winds in Hungary were expected to make the journey difficult, and the first Final Race of the 2026 season immediately delivered the kind of challenge that separates good pigeons from exceptional ones.

501 km on the map – but much more in the sky.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this race emerged from our AviRings Live GPS.

The GPS-tracked pigeon showed that most pigeons initially chose a route that took them towards Slovakia, rather than following the most direct line to the loft.

That decision made an already demanding 501 km journey considerably harder.

Instead of simply flying the theoretical race distance, the pigeons had to correct their route and find their way back towards Slovenia.

Our GPS pigeon tells the story perfectly.

Although the official race distance was 501 km, the GPS track showed that this pigeon actually flew approximately 670 km — an incredible 170 km more than the official distance.

That means the pigeon didn't just race 501 km. It effectively completed a 670 km journey through challenging conditions, with navigation playing a major role.

This is exactly what makes One Loft Racing so fascinating: the distance on the map is only part of the story. The real challenge is what happens in the sky.

A race for the best of the best

The first arrivals confirmed just how competitive the race was.

The winning pigeon, GB-2026-F1121-01, entered by Cosmin Talas, arrived at 13:14:43, achieving an impressive speed of 1,337.87 m/min.

Just seconds later came the second-placed pigeon, NL-2026-F974-07 from Arie Dijkstra, clocking 1,336.93 m/min.

Third place went to SRB-2026-F592-05, entered by Marjan Velicković, with a speed of 1,335.95 m/min.

The fight at the front was incredibly tight — only seconds separated the first three pigeons.

FANCIER OF THE RACE - FINAL RACE 1

While the individual race honors went to Cosmin Talas, the Fancier of the Race was Mike Ganus of the USA, representing Ganus Family Loft. Also, the third position was won by the US fanciers' team - Big Andy + Uwe Wollitzer- and the second place was won by none other than Jelle Jellema, whose pigeons are getting stronger and stronger over longer distances.

With an outstanding performance across his entries, Mike once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the most successful and respected competitors in the world of One Loft Racing.

A huge congratulations to Mike Ganus and Ganus Family Loft for winning the Fancier of the Race title in the first Final Race.

Congratulations to all the fanciers in the Top 10. Reaching the top positions in a 501 km final race deserves enormous respect.

The most important message after Final Race 1 is simple:

Nothing is decided yet.

This is the first of the three 500+ km Final Races that will determine the champions of AviRings Derby Pro 2026.

One race can change the leaderboard.

One exceptional pigeon can rise from nowhere.

And one mistake in navigation, one difficult section of the route, or one moment of weakness can cost precious positions.

The pigeons now have to recover, regroup and prepare for the next challenge.

At AviRings Derby PRO, we are looking for something very special.

Not simply the fastest pigeon on one particular day.

We are looking for the pigeons that can perform, endure and find their way home when the conditions become difficult.

501 km completed. Two battles remain. 🏁

The first Final Race is history.

The next chapter is already waiting.

Three final races.

Three opportunities.

One championship.

And after what we witnessed in Barabás, one thing is certain:

The road to the AviRings Derby PRO 2026 podium has only just begun.

No luck in the game.

Pure performance.

The best of the best.

AviRings Derby PRO 2026 - where the exceptional ones prove themselves.