The second points race this weekend takes place in Indonesia: Dieng Trail Run in Taman Syailendra in Central Java. Second edition of the event organised by Goat Run and ESA, and featuring a very interesting 50km race with nearly 3400 hm of elevation gain. The participation field is not the biggest, but the quality is definitely there. Arief Wismoyono will be facing some of the most talented young Indonesian trail runners post-covid, including Risqi Kurniawan.

It’s just been two weeks since the tough mountain trail Mantra 116 in Malang, but Wismoyono and Kurniawan - winners of the 116km and 65km races respectively - clearly have energy left in the tank. In fact, Kurniawan even did and won a 60k race in Malaysia last week, too. Let’s hope for him it isn’t ‘overkill’ because a victory against Wismoyono would resonate in the ATM world. On paper, the 2015 champion is now clearly most competitive on the long mountain ultras, which plays into Kurniawan’s hands. A weekend of rest could just be what Wismoyono needed to give his young foe a run for his money on Sunday’s 50km - which starts at midnight. There’s a few other runners who could take the victory as well, however. Medan’s Andre Mozes SInaga was one of two exciting Sumatran runners in Orang Utan Trail at the end of May. Sinaga was second, narrowly behind Erwin Simanjuntak, but a few minutes ahead of Singapore’s Chris Timms. The latter is also competing in Dieng, and is keen to get his first ever ATM race win. For Sinaga, Dieng Trail Run, is an important race also to show himself against his compatriots. Sumatran runners do not have a lot of opportunity to race elsewhere, even within their own country Indonesia. As for Kurniawan, a second great result this weekend could already give Sinaga a spot in Team Indonesia for the ATM Championship Final. Wismoyono just needs to finish the race to score his wild card as former ATM champion. Bali-based Thimo Kilberth has already had two points races this season, and is aiming for a third result in Dieng to ensure his spot in the national country team again. After Dieng, there’s only Bali Ultra Trail left to score ATM points within Indonesia itself.

There’s several other men on the start list with podium potential, and so are many women. None of the better known Indonesian names are running this weekend, so it is an excellent chance for Novita Wulandari, Malaysia’s Siti Hajar Razali and Heroin Parulian to claim the spotlight. Parulian and Desi Ariyani already collected a heap of points in Orang Utan Trail and could secure their spots on Team Indonesia for the ATM Final.

ATM will be reporting live from Dieng Trail Run 50km on our usual channels.

DTR: Wismoyono against the new boys