As we did for the 20 km women we propose the comparison Russia - China also in terms of 20 km men.
For Russia we considered Alexander Ivanov and Andrey Ruzavin and compared them in direct matches with the Chinese Cai Zelin and Wang Zhen.
The result is a slight majority of the two athletes of China than the two of Russia, but to be honest the number of races in which they are compared is less than what had been recorded in the female category.
Cai Zelin prevails on Andrey Ruzavin, while he is in tie with Alexander Ivanov.
Wang Zhen is instead in perfect tie with both.
Cai Zelin (3) vs Andrey Ruzavin (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cai | Ruzavin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Shenzhen Universiade | 18.08.2011 | 1:26:55 | 7 | 17 | 1:30:38 |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:24:09 | 34 | 5 | 1:20:37 |
| Moscow World Championships | 11.08.2013 | 1:25:31 | 26 | 49 | 1:32:45 |
| Taicang World Cup | 04.05.2014 | 1:18:52 | 2 | 3 | 1:18:59 |
Cai Zelin (1) vs Aleksandr Ivanov (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cai | Ivanov | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Moscow World Championships | 11.08.2013 | 1:25:31 | 26 | 1 | 1:20:58 |
| Taicang World Cup | 04.05.2014 | 1:18:52 | 2 | - | DQ |
Wang Zhen (2) vs Andrey Ruzavin (2)
| Competition | Date | Result | Wang | Ruzavin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Chihuahua World Cup | 16.05.2010 | 1:26:49 | 21 | 38 | 1:29:22 |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:19:13 | 1 | 5 | 1:20:37 |
| Moscow World Championships | 11.08.2013 | DQ | - | 49 | 1:32:45 |
| Taicang World Cup | 04.05.2014 | 1:19:40 | 6 | 3 | 1:18:59 |
Wang Zhen (1) vs Aleksandr Ivanov (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Wang | Ivanov | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Moscow World Championships | 11.08.2013 | DQ | - | 1 | 1:20:58 |
| Taicang World Cup | 04.05.2014 | 1:19:40 | 6 | - | DQ |
The comparison becomes even more balanced if we consider one of the two top athletes of China today compared to the two previous star of Russia: Valeriy Borchin and Vladimir Kanaykin.
Is true that the opportunities of match between the two couples were only three for Wang Zhen, but he is a little better over two Russians.
Moreover matches were only two for Cai Zelin which is in perfect tie with both.
Is also interesting to note that of the 10 direct matches between the four athletes, four ended with a DQ or a DNF of one of the two.
Wang Zhen (2) vs Valeriy Borchin (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Wang | Borchin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Daegu World Championships | 28.08.2011 | 1:20:54 | 4 | 1 | 1:19:56 |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:19:13 | 1 | 9 | 1:21:29 |
| London Olympic Games | 04.08.2012 | 1:19:25 | 3 | - | DNF |
Wang Zhen (2) vs Vladimir Kanaykin (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Wang | Kanaykin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Daegu World Championships | 28.08.2011 | 1:20:54 | 4 | 2 | 1:20:27 |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:19:13 | 1 | 3 | 1:19:43 |
| London Olympic Games | 04.08.2012 | 1:19:25 | 3 | - | DQ |
Cai Zelin (1) vs Vladimir Kanaykin (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cai | Kanaykin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:24:09 | 34 | 3 | 1:19:43 |
| London Olympic Games | 04.08.2012 | 1:19:44 | 4 | - | DQ |
Cai Zelin (1) vs Valeriy Borchin (1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cai | Borchin | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Saransk World Cup | 12.05.2012 | 1:24:09 | 34 | 9 | 1:21:29 |
| London Olympic Games | 04.08.2012 | 1:19:44 | 4 | - | DNF |
Andrey Ruzavin and Cai Zelin together with Ruslan Dmytrenko
in Taicang 2014