A smart run by Dedy Yusuf landed him a first ATM race victory in the inaugural Jember Hills Classic in East Java, Indonesia, yesterday afternoon. Starting from the Rembangan Hills outside the city, the 70k trail race was controlled by three runners who stayed together from the second aid station onwards: Yusuf, Akhmad Nizar and Thimo Kilberth. In the final couple of kilometres, Yusuf - who had been saving energy throughout the day - had too much speed left on the road towards the centre of university city Jember. An impressive win by the 36-year-old from nearby Lumajang, especially given the two guys next to him on the podium. Nizar was second and Kilberth third - for the third consecutive time in an ATM points race this season. He is practically assured of a place in Team Indonesia for the ATM Final in December. Kilberth has been living in Bali for over ten years.

Jember Hills Classic offered a varied and green course with nine bukits or hills as guideline. The vistas on some of these summits were impressive given the clear weather, which of course also resulted in elevated temperatures after 10 am. Adrian Tuankotta, I Dewa Geda Astawa, Hadi Mustofa and Fuminori Kondo were chasing the lead trio most of the day, but in particular Tuankotta and Kondo suffered as they went off course after 18km for some time. Tuankotta and Kondo recovered strongly and finished fourth and fifth. The same occurred to Shindy Patricia in the women’s race, which placed Indah Wardhani, Rhea Batac, Mila Marlina and Trisha Yuen ahead of her on the way to AS 3. Shindy recovered, however, and was able to distance the other women again on the way to her second ATM race victory of the season. After the finish, Shindy did admit it was time for a bit of rest after a very busy race schedule in the past couple of months. She is basically already guaranteed for her place in Team Indonesia for the ATM Championship Final on 17 December, and Mount Apo in Philippines is exactly the kind of mountain that Shindy likes…. Rhea Batac secured a great second place, equalling her best ever race result on the ATM circuit (2nd in V Trail in Laos in 2019). That’s a rather unexpected big points haul for her Team Pilipinas ambitions for the same ATM Final in December. Third place went to Bali’s Indah Wardhani and fourth to Trisha Yuen, also a very busy trail bee of late and her best race result on the ATM circuit.

First win for Dedy Yusuf in Jember Hills Classic