Season 11 of the Asia Trail Master Championship series continues this weekend after the Christmas and New Year’s break with the classic Tahura Trail in Bandung. The 11th edition of the event, which returned to the calendar last year after a five-year-break, is the first Indonesian qualifier of the ATM season and also one of the shortest. Sticking to tradition, Tahura Trail retains its 42km ‘trail marathon’ as the longest category. Last year’s male winner Alessandro Sherpa will once again toe the starting line on Saturday morning.

Over the years, It’s not become any easier for IBA to organise Tahura Trail in the big park carrying the same name. For this edition, registration could only open two months ago. Nevertheless, runners signed up en masse for the various categories and more than 400 runners will compete on the 42km. The late scheduling did have some impact on the ‘elite’ field, which seems less dense than in previous editions. That could make for some exciting open racing, though, with newcomers grabbing the opportunity to get themselves known on the international scene.

Alessandro Sherpa is the logical favourite in the men’s race, of course. The Italian began his preparation for next month’s ATM Championship Final about two months ago after a lengthy work-caused break and Saturday’s race will be an indication where he stands competitively right now. After several podium places Sherpa won last year’s Tahura ahead of another former ATM Champion Arief Wismoyono. This weekend, his main challengers are likely to be Abdul Aziz Dermawan, who had a great Season 10 and is signed up for Team Indonesia in next month’s ATM Championship Final at the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong. Also, Yusuf Aprian remains a dangerman, even though he has shifted his attention mainly to the very long ultras in recent seasons. Indonesia-based Colombian Daniel Ortiz and Sobiri Haerudin can also eye a podium result, if not more.

The women’s race does not seem to have an outspoken favourite. Look out for Yustina Wardhani and good-old Eni Rosita to finish towards the front in any case. Singapore-based Vanja Cnops won the race a year ago ahead of local hero and former ATM Champion Ruth Theresia.

Tahura is a big park just outside Bandung City, which makes it also accessible and nice for the whole family to spend a weekend there. The park has lots of great restaurants, coffee bars and sightseeing activities.

ATM will be reporting live from the race on Saturday morning on the usual channels.

11th Tahura Trail in Bandung with Alessandro Sherpa