Trail des Gombak: big start list with open races

This weekend’s Trail des Gombak in Selangor, not far from Kuala Lumpur, is the last Malaysian points race of the season on the peninsula, before we are heading to Sabah for the duo KAR Ultra and Borneo TMBT Ultra at the end of July and August respectively. Gombak is a new entry on our calendar, after a successful edition as a Candidate Race a year ago. Organised by Projek Hijo, the event has attracted a big number of participants and features two relevant categories for the ATM Championship points ranking, the 100km and 50km, whereby the 100 is of course also valid for the Grandmaster Quest. Start of the race proceedings is scheduled for 8am on Saturday morning, when 213 registered runners will embark on their 100k journey. The 50k is set to commence at 3 am on Sunday early morning, or middle of the night - as you wish.

Not only are the numbers impressive, the start lists also have quality and feature lots of well-known names from across Asia. It promises to be an exciting race weekend, as the course is not overtly demanding with an estimated 3500 hm elevation gain for the 100km and half of that for the 50km. On paper, Gombak is one of the more runable races of the season.

Gombak is the name of the district located just 80km north of KLIA, Malaysia’s international airport. The area has been a drawcard for tourists thanks to the proximity of the Batu Caves. The venue of Trail des Gombak is located just to the north of the caves at Dewan Sergabuna. “Exploring Possibilities” is the tagline of the event. The route of the race consists of jungle trails, river creeks, waterfalls, asphalt, rolling hills, and more .

Looking at the 100k start list, with bib number 1, is Wilsen Singgin. In top form last time out in the Penang Sky Race, Singgin returns to the longer ultra for the first time in a while. An ATM Finalist already three years in a row, and always a podium finisher, Singgin has upped his game even more this year. Focusing more on speed and 50km races has clearly benefited his competitive performance, and Singgin might still pull off some surprises this season - who knows event at the Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. In Gombak, he will start the 100k as the top favourite, but he will face some very solid competition from the likes of Oswald Maikol, Gustin Tiam, Haziq Aysraf, Andrew Farmers, Nguyen Phuong Hieu, Asyraf Ghazali and certainly also from Aqmal Adzmi. The winner of UTOP 100 Miles early in Season 10 could in any case position himself as a serious candidate for a spot in Team Malaysia at the ATM Finals this season, which would be a first for him.

For the women’s 100km, the favourite has to be Sabah’s Rejlen James, as usual within Malaysia. However, she can expect to be challenged by Hong Kong’s Rachel Chan , who last year already gave James a run for her money once at SIlabur 100. Also Hong Kong-based, but originally from Nepal, is Dilu Limbu. Limbu was fifth in Lantau 70 at the end of March, so let’s keep an eye out for her. In fact, a second good result this weekend may put Limbu into Team Nepal for the ATM Championship Final. Lynda Marylyn is also on the 100k start list, and always a podium candidate. Other known potentials for a good placing are Dazeree Joannes and Yvette Chong Mi Chin.

An important starter on the 100km this Saturday is also Kenneth Mun Keat Yow. The Malaysian ultra specialist is aiming for his 20th ATM ultra race finish, meaning his 4th Grandmaster Star. If he manages, he will be only the second Malaysian to complete the fourth golden level of the Grandmaster Quest after Munintaran Sundram at PMTF in early May!

The 50km race also promises to be exciting to follow with several potential winners and podium candidates in both male and female races. Singapore’s Malachy Kirwan is a contender on this type of course, for sure. Muhammad Faris Azhari has been in-form all season and looks one of Malaysia’s certitudes for the team in the ATM Championship Final. Singapore-based American Humberto Baeza won Lam Dong Trail in Dalat early in the season, and may wish to erase his DNF due to injury in the Penang Sky Race. Also from Singapore and a solid-paced runner: Deric Lau. Hong Kong-based runners Jeremy Ritcey, Luis Alvelais and Mark Iandolo are all in with a shot at the podium, and so is Alex Tilley - based in Penang - although he may find Gombak a bit too runable for his liking. More runners can pull off a surprise.

In the women’s race we will see Ritzy Amor back in action as one of the race favourites, alongside Japan’s Akane Nemoto, back from injury.Nemoto was on the podium in the past two ATM Championship Finals. Guan Shin Law is also among the usual podium contenders in what will also be a large field.

ATM will be reporting live from Trail des Gombak as of Saturday morning 7:30 am local time, with the 100km starting at 8 am.