Sawayanagi and Nakano fastest rainmasters in Shiga Kogen 100

While it was scorchingly hot and dry in Borneo TMBT Ultra last weekend, the weather couldn’t have been more different in Shiga Kogen 100 in Japan. A total wet race, which due to the elevated altitudes the race is held on also meant colder temperatures. Last year, Hisashi Kitamura won this race, the last qualifier in Japan for this season’s ATM Champonship, but he opted for his beloved TMBT race instead.

Takumi Sawayanagi was fastest last weekend , taking his first ATM race victory ahead of Nagisa Itagaki and Kazuki Matsumura. Kento Ikeda and Koji Sunaga completed the top five. Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi had a difficult run , suffering from lower back pain and would finish outside the Top 25.

In the women’s 100km race, it was the experienced Sachi Nakano taking the win. Kirari Oi finished second, which propels her into her country’s top five in the ATM points ranking. Kirari Oi is thus qualified for the upcoming ATM Championship Final in Vietnam. Kumi Katagiri was third in the race, followed by Yuka Okusawa and Chihiro Matsumura.