Last weekend’s successful BTR Ultra event in Bali, Indonesia, saw the first ever ATM points race victory for upcoming long ultra talent Roberto Cain III (The Third). The Filipino was dominant in the tough 105km ultra across Bali’s three famous mountains Batur, Agung and Abang. He was already first on the summit of Batur before sunset on Friday evening, and kept his advantage throughout the night. In the early hours of Saturday morning, Cain III even still increased the gap to his nearest competitors underlining his superiority. Pre-race favourites like Arief Wismoyono never featured at the very front and later would even DNF. Earlier this ATM season, Roberto Cain III had already taken 2nd in Mount Kalatungan Ultra and 4th in Sierra Madre Trail Ultra. Good results, but this Bali victory really means a step up for him - particularly as it’s not even at home in Philippines. His finish time was 17h52, which proved the hard nature of this 100k and 7200hm course. In fact, runners were even lucky it was cloudy and not that hot for most of the event, set by the Batur Lake.

Almost an hour behind Cain III, Wai Hung Mok from Hong Kong grabbed second in his ATM debut. He was running most of the race with Java’s Akhmad Nizar, but had the edge in the final ten kilometres. Nizar somehow has a subscription on third places in ATM races. Nevertheless, it was third achievement of the current season and he is basically already guaranteed of qualification for Team Indonesia in the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. In 2023, Nizar finished 8th in the Final. Behind Wai Hung Mok and Akhmad Nizar, it was Malaysia’s Yih Huan Sua , always good in Indonesia, with Philippines’ Maynard Encormal, having a superb performance just a week after taking a 3rd podium spot in the Mt Ugo Marathon. Yusuf Aprian made a nice comeback to the scene after a long injury break with sixth place. He was followed by Egypt’s well-known Ahmed Bedair, who had made a fast start with Cain III on Batur.

The women’s 100km ultra was dominated by Hong Kong’s Man Yee Cheung. Just two weeks after her miler on Fuji in Japan, the tall Hong Kong star seemed pretty well recovered and was a class on her own in Bali. She took her victory, her second in ATM after VMM 100 in 2023, as fifth overall in 21h13. Earlier this year she also finished second in the 9 Dragons. With a total of 950 ATM Championship points in two races, she might have already done enough to qualify for the Championship Final in Vietnam this season.

Behind her, it was a fantastic second place for Thailand’s Siriporn Leumathong. She was almost the entire race in second and held off a long list of other regular ATM race podium contenders. Last season, she was a surprising 9th in the ATM Championship Final at Borneo TMBT. Indonesia’s Devi Devi claimed the third step on the podium. Earlier on Saturday morning, Ruth Theresia - who was on podium course - stepped out of the race with severe stomach cramps. Another pre-race favourite, Adelinah Lintanga, had a tough day but managed to get some ATM points for 8th place. Singapore’s Wei Xinshuang finished fourth and Malayia’s Law Guan Shin fifth. Then it was Japan’s Yasuyo Hotta followed by Anne Maridol (Philippines), Risa Kamiya (Japan), Adelinah Lintanga(Malaysia) and Nia Septiana. Syarifah Hamzah, who was 4th in Penang just two weeks ago, dropped down to 11th place in the last part of the race.

In the BTR 60k race, Hong Kong-based Dutchman Lodewijk Vriens scored his first ATM race win of the season in 8h37. Vriens was challenged initially by the newcomer from Ambon in the Moluccas, Haidar Ali Lestaluhu, but then took the advantage in the black lava field. After 4th in VUM in March, a good win for Vriens - one of the potential dark horses for the Championship this season.

He was followed by several of Indonesia’s ‘new generation’ runners. In second place was Sobari Herdiana, a good 20 minutes behind Vriens. Third on the podium, Ujang Ahmad Ahmad and Sobiri Haerudin took fourth place. Bali-based German Thimo Kilberth, now 50, was a fantastic fifth after a brilliant second half of the race. Kilberth showed once more what focus and dedication to a goal can do. His fourth successive qualification for the Championship Final is nearly a given already. Abdul Aziz Dermawan was seventh, ahead of Agus Juprit and Luis Alvelais - also on a good day. Malachy Kirwan was a DNS and Taofik Hidayat had a rough day to finish in 14th.

In the women’s, Singapore-based Belgian Vanja Cnops took her 9th ATM race win and 2nd of the season, but only just so! Indonesian newcomer in ATM, Gita Harmoni, came closer and closer and stranded just 1’40” behind Cnops, the vice-ATM Champion of the past two years. What an introduction to Gita Harmoni, who is from Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Vanja Cnops required no less than 10h38 to win this 60k race across Batur and Abang, which was her longest race ever - yes, read that again. For Gita it was a step up in competition level after starting trail running in 2022.

France’s Manon Bourdoge was a happy third. she was followed in the finish by New Zealand’s Charlotte van der Lee, who managed to get ahead of Malaysia’s Shamiera Auther in the final 8 km. Lolita Lintanga and an injured Ritzy Amor were next. Ritzy retakes the overall ATM points lead from her Filipino compatriot Angelie Cabalo. Local Dian Pradina was eighth and Halimatun Sa’adiah ninth.

The next Indonesian points race event in the ATM Championship series is Mantra 116 on the first weekend of July. Later in early September, there’s also still the Ijen Mountain Marathon.

Roberto Cain III steps up in Bali/ Victories for Vriens, Cnops and Cheung