Trail running in the Rizal mountains east of Manila is taking off very seriously again and it seems written in the stars that very soon runners from across Asia can once again score coveted ATM Championship and Grandmaster Quest points in the Rizal. Another new event sees the limelight on 28 May: the Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75 in Rodriguez and Antipolo.

The organisation is in the hands of experienced trail runners and headed by Arven Alcantara, a national team athlete in the Philippines. Interesting and eye catching is the fact that the Sierra Madre Trail Ultra will only feature a one-and-only race category: 75 kilometres! Competition-wise it is always good if all participants in an event are going head-to-head instead of being spread out over several categories. The 75K is scheduled to have 4600 metres of elevation gain, so that ‘s a tough course. It will take you to the southern peaks of Sierra Madre Mountain range in Rodriguez and Antipolo including Mt. Parawagan, Mt. Purro, Mt. Mapatad, Mt. Kawa-Kawa, Mt. Malemod, Mt. Ayaas and Mt. Kapananan. This is serious business and it is therefore no suprise that the organisation requires participants to have some degree of experience. Namely, proof of having completed a road or trail race of minimum 42 KM (marathon) before. The cut-off time for the Sierra Madre is 19 hours and the starting time is set at 2 am. The course map can be consulted below.

This event will be the second ATM Candidate Race in the Rizal area this spring, four weeks after the Santa Ines Mountain Adventure Run. Both events have completely different race courses, however, and except a 3 km road section have no overlap.

Thailand-based Briton George Burkin is a strong new winner of UTKC 100 in a time of 13:13:15. Narin Kongsiri finished in second place 43 minutes later and Arnon Srimat was in third, one hour and twenty minutes back. UTKC 100 was the opener of the new ATM Championship season. The event on Koh Chang island in the south of Thailand saw an incredible number of 3500 registrants. Due to ongoing covid mitigation efforts, certainly not everyone turned up at the starting line but it was a great feast nonetheless! In the absence of Jay Jantaraboon and Sanya Khancai, both on the start list provided by the event organiser but not in the race, the trio of runners that scored the podium was actually in the leading positions all night and day. For George Burkin it’s his first ATM podium and victory.

Chonlada Kappiyanond was another newcomer on the ATM scene and a great winner of the women’s race. She managed her race beautifully as a few others faded in the second half. At the finish, Chonlada Kappiyanond turned up fifth overall and one hour and 28 minutes (!!!) ahead of experienced Grandmaster Montha Suntornwit of The T8 Team! Here I am! Montha Suntornwit ran a smart race herself and moved up the leaderboard as the race went on, as is often the case with the established ultra runner. She came into the finish together wth Sawangjit Saengow of Thailand’s Team Instinct. . Chanchaya naphawanroed scored 4th and UTCR 230 winner Kanlaya Thongfachailai of Team La Sportiva Thailand was in 5th place.

On the 70km there’s a Thai race winner with Danon Rattanatumrong. He was 27 minutes faster than Norwegian Eirik Knudsen and Somjai Pesri of Thailand. As the 100k and 70k were evenly rated in terms of ATM Championship points, that implies Danon Rattanatumrong tops the Thai national ranking with 500 points ahead of Narin Kongsiri with 450.

In the women’s race victory went to Areerat Kareeklin ahead of Suphalak Kotapae and Payungjit Kosopa, all three from the home country.

The next ATM points race in Thailand is scheduled to be Ultra Trail Chiang Mai at the end of August.

photo credit: UTKC official

George Burkin wins the men’s 100 km

An impressive introduction to Chonlada Kappiyanond, winner of the women’s 100 km

At last, we have arrived. The first trail race weekend of what currently promises to be an exciting new season of the Asia Trail Master Championship series - the first after 2019. UTKC, Ultra Trail Koh Chang, is the event and venue for the opener in Thailand tomorrow. An event with 100k and 70k race categories relevant for points, and one that brought us several fantastic runs in the past. While the big majority of participants will still be residents of Thailand, there are international athletes who have taken the step to travel and face the remaining covid-19 mitigation measures. It’s the start of a new season and one is quick - perhaps despite knowing better - to call it ‘post-pandemic’ , but unfortunately many people are still in no position to cross country borders or even take part in running events at all. Consider, for instance, Hong Kong, home city of our last two and actually still reigning ATM Champions John Ellis and Veronika Vadovicova. Nevertheless, UTKC inspires growing confidence that ‘real’ trail running events are on the return in Asia. In fact, there’s three more events on the calendar for the next two weekends, too. Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon in Malaysia, EcoTrail AlUla in Saudi Arabia and last but not least Dalat Ultra Trail in Vietnam. It may be later than usual, but safe to say that the 2022 ATM Championship is flagging off with a bang!

The road to the ATM Championship conclusion will see over 25 points races throughout the continent between now and 17 December, date of the final event at a location soon to be officially announced. In between, we will have several Candidate Races as well. New events that have applied for a spot on our championship calendar next year or after. It will certainly be busy and we are looking forward to loads of exciting stories, stellar achievements and the Big Reconnection!

This weekend’s men’s 100k at UTKC could see the second installment of a battle that took place in 2018. Local trail heroes Jay Jantaraboon and Sanya Khancai are both featuring as favourites on the start list. Four years ago, the slightly older Sanya pushed Jay forward nearly all the way without ever really relenting. Let’s see if the Thai veteran can repeat that level of performance again on a course that is less technical as back then. We know Jay has not spent his time lying on the sofa during the covid-19 crisis and by all means he is the man to beat. Outsiders and podium candidates could be Nikom Tongjai, Narin Kongsiri and probably several others. After over two years it would be logical to see the appearance of many new faces at the forefront of the competitions.

In the women’s 100km we will follow Kanlaya Thongfachailai carefully. She won the Ultimate 130 at UT Chiang Rai in 2020. And in the 70km race category, we will have Canadian Carrie Jane Stander, 9th in the 2019 ATM Championship series.

As a clear sign that things are also not yet so straightforward in Thailand, event organiser Nop Suksawat and his team have had to make amendments to the race courses up to the last couple of days. Koh Chang is a relatively small island with a small community and not everyone is already keen to see runners returning en masse for the event. A couple of reroutes is likely to reduce the total distance to some 95 km and bring the elevation gain closer to 3000 hm instead of the advertised 4300+ hm. These changes could affect the outcome of the races, as fast-paced runners will have the best chance ever for a great result at this event. The strongmen and strongwomen who prefer the more technical, dense and steeper hilly jungle trails , something UTKC is renowned for, will have fewer opportunities this year to leave a mark.

Ryan Whelan of the Gone Running team in Hong Kong won the 70k race two years ago

Also this year we let Milestone light our way through the Asia Trail Master Championship series. The head lamps have become a trendy asset for every ultra runner in Japan and meanwhile also in other parts of Asia. Milestone is a lighting company based in Osaka, Japan. The founder, Shuhei Nishioka, was born in a family that has specialised in lighting business since as far back as 1920. Milestone has mainly focused on headlamps using a Warm White LED (natural warm color) to get better visibility when snowing or getting foggy. Its uniqueness distinguishes Milestone from other brands in the sector.

A top hit in the line of head lamps is the Trailmaster. A very fitting name! The company spent 3 years to produce Trailmaster and is strictly made for serious trail runners. It also matches with a running cap, especially designed to go along with the headlamp and its strap. Milestone proudly produces the Trailmaster in Japan. Every single piece is tested by their professional engineers before packaging.

On the official website of Milestone you can look through all the different styles of head lights suitable for trail runners. In Asia, you can also get the products, amongst others via MMTF Consultant and via Red Dot Running Company in Singapore.

Also in 2022 Gone Running in Hong Kong is our preferred physical and e-store for all things trail running. Located in 16/F, Simsons Commercial Building, 137 Johnston Road in Wanchai on Hong Kong Island, Joe Joe’s team is always happy to assist you with advice on brand and products for road and trail running, and offering competitive prices and fast shipping, too.

Several of ATM’s partner brands are available at Gone Running, and if you are not based in Hong Kong, you can just order online as well.

The history of Gone Running already goes back eight years to 2014, with the aim to provide a better online shopping experience for Hong Kong trail and road runners. But as their website says: “ it's about more than just good prices. We want to offer the best products (gear we use ourselves) as well as knowledgeable advice from top trail and road runners to make sure you get the kit and nutrition that is best for you. Combine that with efficient shipping and a hassle-free returns policy, and we hope we have a concept that you will love. It's for runners, by runners.”

In the mean time, Gone Running also has built up a great running community in Hong Kong, organising regular running and community events, sponsor budding young runners, collect secondhard gear donations, and support some great running-based charities. Ryan Whelan, and sometimes even John Ellis, can be spotted regularly wearing the Team Gone Running singlets or tees.

During 2022, stay tuned for news and offers from the Gone Running store. In particular, consider the following brands for your daily trail running needs: Crampfix, to prevent and relief even the nastiest muscle cramps. Gipron, one of the oldest producers of trekking and trail running poles. Founded in…1917(!) and headquartered in Italy, Gipron is legendary in the scene (take a look at the great Gipron website , too. Fractel, very nicely designed and functional running caps to protect you from the sun during open trails. There’s a lot of styles to choose from, have a look at the Fractel website.

With the 2022 Asia Trail Master season just a few days away, It is a genuine pleasure to announce the signing of INSTINCT as our official hydration and running pack partner. Many runners throughout Asia are already familiar with the typically fluo yellow and black coloured lightweight packs, and love their flexibility and ergonomics. As a supporter of our ATM Championship series, INSTINCT aims to convince many more people of their products.

INSTINCT : born on the trails of the French Alps and race-approved around the world. The brand was born following first-hand experience and analytical observations during trail running by the founder. At the heart of each revolutionary INSTINCT product is the desire to achieve a greater degree of function, accessibility and ergonomics; Total liberty of movement, zero obstruction and a second-skin fit.

“BE INSPIRED” represents the initiative & commitment of the brand towards improved & more environmentally friendly production methods and actions. INSTINCT sees that as an integral part of its future development, as love for nature should outweigh the excitement for ever more technical gear. Inspired by nature, part of the product range is now produced with recycled polyester, such as e.g. the Duffel Pack 45l, which also carries the GRS certification. GRS stands for Global Recycling Standard and its goal is to increase use of recycled materials in products & reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production. Reducing our carbon footprint by using materials produced with recycled plastics is one of the many possible solutions that can make an immediate & positive impact.

Below you can find images of some of INSTINCT’s most popular products. A full overview can be consulted via the official website (click on button below). Throughout the 2022 season, stay tuned for news and updates and chances to win INSTINCT prizes at ATM races.

We conclude this announcement with a little poem written by the founder himself and published on INSTINCT’s website:

Running as one with nature; liberty of movement. A perfect osmosis, unparalleled pleasure.

“You’re in full run.

Your heart is pounding and the adrenaline is rushing.

Your feet prance around all obstacles.

You’re “in the zone.”

Free of any distractions, you’re as one with nature."

Slide on our gear & embrace

a world of greater proprioception,

liberty of movement and function.

Welcome to a “trail” that leads to increased comfort,

support and pleasure.

Listen to your instinct and express yourself.

This is why INSTINCT was created.

Sean Van Court

Founder, Designer & Trail Enthusiast.

As the new season is about to start next weekend, it’s a good time for us to raise attention in the next days to all our supporters and partners for 2022. Despite the past two difficult years due to covid, we are truly delighted that most brands who were with us before the pandemic have remained loyal to the Asia Trail Master Championship series. We are very appreciative, indeed!

Two of those brands are Andorra-headquartered OTSO - Think Sports, and Japan-based New-HALE taping systems.

New-HALE was established by Mr Koji Akuta, who is one of the pioneers in kinesio taping. For those people not yet so familiar with the technology, it is a rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It is a therapeutic technique not only offering you the support you are looking for, but also rehabilitating any affected condition as well.

New-HALE has a wide range of items in its catalogue, but in ATM the focus is on the V Tape and the X Tape. Both these are easily available in Asia outside Japan thanks to our preferred retail store Gone Running in Hong Kong. More details can be found on our dedicated New-HALE page under ‘Partners’ , and a great explanatory video below will show you how to use the taping.

OTSO remains on board for the 2022 ATM series as our preferred customisation partner. OTSO has quickly built up a solid reputation in the past couple of years despite the global covid pandemic. This year, OTSO will be equipping some of the national country teams qualified for the ATM Final in December with great outfits to run in, and will also be preparing customised ATM merchandise throughout the season.

OTSO is a brand that was born in Andorra, in the middle of the mountains of the High Pyrenees, a small but great country between France and Spain that provides excellent scenarios for thousands of athletes from different parts of the world to visit every year attracted by its many natural settings.

Cold and snowy mountains in winter for the practice of any sport related to the snow, cool and rugged mountains in summer to practice outdoor sports, make Andorra the ideal place for the birth of our brand.

Some of the best cyclists, motorcyclists, skiers, mountaineers, athletes, trail runners ... spend or have spent a season here trained attracted by its majestic mountains and conditions.

From here is born @OTSO which means WOLF in Basque and represents leadership, strength, courage, power, struggle, cunning, trust, freedom, loyalty, resistance, generosity, humility, family and individuality, values that represent very well all those who like to live sports as a lifestyle and passion.

OTSO has specialized in integrating the best design and the best technologies to make specific custom products, limited editions, unique and exclusive collections for legendary races and sporting events in different places around the world.

It is a pleasure for us to announce our first venture onto the huge Indonesian island of Sumatra this coming spring time. The inaugural Bukit Lawang Jungle Trail Run near Medan has just been confirmed as a new ATM Candidate Race, and the event has been scheduled for the weekend of 27/28 May. On the menu we find several race categories, of which the longest is 42 km with approx 1730 hm of elevation gain. The technical organisation is in the hands of Arras Adventure and the event is receiving considerable support from the Ministry of Tourism.

Bukit Lawang is a tourist destination in Bohorok District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province, which is located about 80 km northwest of Medan city. More than 90% of the land cover in Bukit Lawang is still primary forest. It is a tropical forest which is also the natural habitat and roaming area of ​​the Sumatran orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus abelli) , an icon for the tourism industry. In addition, Bukit Lawang has two more primate species, namely the long-tailed monkey (Macaca fascicularis), and the kedih (Prisbytis sp.). Other fauna are hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), stone srigunting (Dicrurus paradiceus), eagle (Haliartus sp). All these rare animals are key for the protection and maintenace of the balance of the forest ecosystem around the Gunung Leuser National Park. This big national park contains one of the highest volcanoes and has some of the most dense tropical rain forest in Indonesia all together. These animals also play an active role in spreading the vegetation in the forest throughout their home range. The forest is accompanied by the melodious flow of the fresh and clear Bahorok rive, a rafting tourist destination. Mount Leuser National Park was awarded an international title as a Biosphere Reserve in 1981, ASEAN Heritage Park in 1984 and a world heritage site, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, in 2004 by UNESCO.

Bukit Lawang and the wider area is adopting the concept of sport tourism, especially as an arena for trail running sports on a national and also international scale. By joining the Asia Trail Master series, local stakeholders also wish to develop young and local running talent, and give them an opportunity to shine and gain media exposure.

The 42k main race promises to be an interesting one with a very runable-looking profile for two-thirds of the course, before two clear hill peaks catch our attention. Managing one’s efforts will be key for those runners looking to score a podium. Less ambitious trail enthusiasts can also opt for shorter race distances: 24km, 11km or 7km.

The nearest airport is Medan City, well-connected within Indonesia and with usually a few international connections as well. From Medan, it is roughly a 3-hour journey by car to Bukit Lawang. There is plenty of accommodation at the race venue, inn and guesthouse-style. Please see the PDF list below for further details on this.

 

We are happy to announce a new ATM Candidate Race near Manila in the Philippines. The Santa Ines Mountain Adventure Run is a tough 80km race through the Rizal mountains and to the summit of Mount Irid, which at 1467m above sea level is the highest mountain in the area. The event, dubbed ‘leg 2’ following an initial test event that received widespread praise from the local trail communities, is scheduled for 30 April/1 May weekend.

The start and finish line will be at Sta. Ines Covered Court. The route will pass through the trails going to Sitio Kinabuan and Sitio Sadlak and summiting Mts. Irid and Tukduang Banoi. For the 80km category, it will also pass through some trail sections of Brgy. Tinucan traversing to Sitio Nayon. The event will help in promoting the tourism of Tanay, Rizal and healthy lifestyle in the community. Total elevation gain is estimated to be 4380 hm.

Long-time followers of ATM may remember there used to be a solid 50k race in the Rizal mountains before. A race that saw a.o. the emergence of great talents such as John Ray Onifa, Koi Grey and Kristian Joergensen. The new event in Santa Ines has been set up by a different team, The Pace republic, including Grandmaster Quest challenger Rhea Batac, an experienced trail runner who has completed a.o. Ultra Trail Chiang Mai in Thailand and V Trail in Laos.

It is important to note that 80k registrants must have completed at least one 50k race, road or trail, before. Race start will be at midnight and the cut-off time is 22 hours. For beginning trail runners there is also a 30k option, for which the only entry requirement is to be above 18 years of age. We are still living in the covid 19 era, and local authorities demand a cap on the number of registrants. In other words, sign up early!

More information can be obtained via the official website www.thepacerepublic.com and its social media channels.

The 80K route has over 4300 Hm. Not to be underestimated in other words..

Over the past few weeks a lot of social media posts have been going back and forth, it is a sign of the times. Long-term commitments are unfortunately difficult for many people nowadays, especially in the event industry , as the world keeps struggling with the covid 19 pandemic and all the restrictions and mitigation measures this entails. The (very) good news, however, is that ‘real’ events are no longer a nostalgic memory from the recent past, but again something to look forward to in the coming weeks and months!

Later than usual, but also we are happy to announce that the 7th edition of the Asia Trail Master Championship series is a definite go, with the first four events of our ‘intended’ race calendar last December now all confirmed to take place. Four races in four countries in March, within the frame of three weekends! A great way to initiate the new season, and it’s Ultra Trail Koh Chang (UTKC) in southern Thailand that has the honour of opening the runners’ points accounts for the ATM Championship and the Grandmaster Quest. The regulations for the Championship have been changed somewhat in the light of the ongoing covid situation, and the main objective for runners is now to get ranked in the top 5 of their country and join its national team, in order to enter the ATM Championship Final mid-December. Grandmaster Quest challengers still need to register their intention via this online form, but can relax as all pre-pandemic points remain valid (as long as the runner registered for the GM Quest via aforementioned form).

UTKC has become a classic event on the ATM calendar and has witnessed the emergence of great trail talent over the years, and indeed some superb head-to-head battles between protagonists as well. Two years ago, UTKC was the last truly international ATM points race before the world shut down. In 2022, it is a great season’s opener. As always here, runners score points on both the 100k and 70k race distances.

One weekend later we have a doubleheader with Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) in Sabah, Malaysia and the 2nd edition of EcoTrail AlUla, a pioneering trail event in Saudi Arabia. BUTM is often referred to as the little sister of Borneo TMBT Ultra, and the organisation is managed by the same team, but it’s an awesome and tough race in itself. BUTM participants can also score points on both the 100km and 50km race distance categories. In AlUla, the focus is exclusively on the 80km race. This is a pure desert race, and mostly runable except when runners climb and go through two rocky canyon sections. Definitely an outlier in terms of running terrain, but highly recommended for those looking to have a different kind of trail experience.

The last weekend of March then sees the return of Dalat Ultra Trail in Vietnam. The event features a 70k race that was one of the best races of the 2019 ATM season. What’s more, it takes place in the pine forests nearby a great tourist city so it makes for an ideal family outing.

After these four events, there may be a bit of a breather in terms of the ATM Championship, as the next event, Korea 50K is yet to be confirmed. South Korea is still struggling to come to terms with the pandemic inside its borders. What was confirmed earlier this week ,however, is that Bali Trail Running Challenge is joining our Championship calendar on 15 May! In addition, Echigo Country Trail in Japan is on for 19 June. From that point onwards, it will become very busy, as the majority of the year’s points races are being scheduled in the second semester and culminating in the ATM Final on 17/18 December.

Throughout the season, we will of course also pay attention to our Candidate Races. Events that are keen to join the Championship calendar next year or in the near future. The first one of those is highly likely to take place near Manila in the Philippines at the end of April. Stay tuned for more on this one!

BUTM is new in the ATM Championship this year. The Sabahan community is looking forward!

Paul Dunn and Fredelyn Alberto: winners of the 100k race at UTKC 2020, just before the global pandemic struck

We are happy to have received good news from Vietnam: the popular Dalat Ultra Trail is back on the schedule in 2022, and will even take place quite soon on the last weekend of March. After the tragic flash flood edition during the rainy season in 2020, the event is thus moved forward again to its usual March slot, at the end of the dry season. ATM Championship contenders and Grandmaster Quest challengers need to focus on the 70 km race.

The 2019 edition of the event was an absolute highlight of that year’s Asia Trail Master series with excellent weather and a beautiful varied course encouraging runners to give the best of themselves. After local hero Quan Tran faded dramatically in the latter part of the race, Hisashi Kitamura looked like he was going to collect what would have been his first ever ATM race victory. However, John Ellis dug as deep he could and still caught up with the Karate Kit and dropped in the final few kilometres to grab what turned out to be very relevant victory in the context of winning the ATM Championship later in the year.

The women’s race was equally interesting as two former ATM Champions went head-to-head for the first… and till today also the last time. Malaysia’s Tahira Najmunisaa, our 2016 champion and until then unbeaten in ATM races, returned to the trails after a stressful period of her life, and put the hammer down from the get-go. But Hong Kong-based Kim Matthews, who succeeded Tahira as champion in 2017 before suffering a nasty hip injury, had a bit more endurance training in the legs and took the lead just over halfway the 70k race. Time flies, it has been three years since both great and inspiring women scored headlines on the ATM scene. Let’s hope that we can welcome both of them back this coming season.

Meanwhile, several local Vietnamese runners have been gaining experience and improving their overall trail running performance. Whereas in 2019, the top 20 of the men’s race was almost entirely foreign, this year we could expect local heroes to contest the podium places even if strong runners from other nationalities make the trip to Dalat. The authorities in Vietnam have announced the country will open the borders on 15 March, and do away with quarantine mandates and nearly all covid-related restrictions. While awaiting the precise regulations to come out, it does sound like the 2022 Dalat Ultra Trail will be the first Vietnamese race in two years that is not limited to domestic runners-only.

DLUT is characterised by quite a runable but hilly course that traverses pine forests. The race takes place just outside the city of Dalat, which is one the big tourist attractions in southern Vietnam. It’s essentially sitting on a hill plateau at approx 1500m above sea level, which implies temperatures are nowhere near as hot as in the coastal cities. In fact, it can be cold in the early morning and at night. Ideal for the majority of runners. As the city itself is also the event base, accommodation is easy to find and non-running friends and family members can spend an enjoyable weekend sightseeing as you compete in the race.

Registration is open and can be done online via the link to the official website below.

Typical view of Dalat Ultra Trail: runners in pine forest

With hindsight John Ellis took an important step towards his 2019 ATM crown in Dalat by catching and passing Hisashi Kitamura a few kilometres before the finish

Fantastic women’s podium in 2019: 2017 ATM Champion Kim Matthews edges 2016 Champ Tahira Najmunisaa and 2019 vice-champion Christine Loh took third place.

Less than three months ago, the BTR Challenge in Bali was one of the first real events that got organised in South East Asia after the long covid-related break. As a Candidate Race, the organisers of Bali Trail Running proved their skills and professionalism with a short, but solid and covid-safe experience that lay the foundation for more racing plans in 2022. To begin, the November 30k race has been moved forward to 15 May and has been accepted as a points race that counts for the Asia Trail Master Championship!

30 kilometres is obviously not the longest race in ATM’s history, but fans may remember the Japanese event Kushigata Wind Run from our early days. That one hardly reached 30 clicks, but just like the BTR Challenge had enough elevation and technical sections to test everyone’s mettle. The BTR Challenge is all about famous volcano Gunung Batur in the northeast of Bali. The course has 1230 hm and the cut-off time at the finish is six hours and thirty minutes.

Registration is already open and you need to be quick as spots are limited, still due to covid mitigation efforts. Please note that only the 30k provides ATM Championship points, not the 15k that is also on the event programme. Circumstances keep changing, but at present Bali and Indonesia are also making efforts to reduce the level of restrictions imposed on foreign tourists and visitors. Today people who have had a booster shot against covid are required to isolate for 3 days upon arrival in Bali.

Thimo Kilberth and Emma Payne, both residents in Bali, won the inaugural edition in an exciting competition of which you can watch the highlights again here below.

Thimo Kilberth in the descent of Batur and on the way to winning the inaugural edition last November. (Photo credit: darmasusila.dek_piyo)