Grosseto, today hosted the first race walk outdoor competition race of the season 2017.
Even in the past between the last week of January and the first of February took place the historical Winter Race Walking Trophy, which in recent years had been matched to the 50km Italian Championship.
This year the trophy was renamed, becoming the first leg of race walk Clubs Championship, the 50km was canceled, and the race of 30km, which had also characterized the editions of 2015 and 2014, has been replaced by a 35km.
A lot of high rank Countries of race walk in the world are using this system, so we are certainly not among those who criticize this choice: well done a 35km to see the status of the form of the walkers of long distance after the winter training and after the stop end of the previous season.
What leaves a bit of concern is to see at the start this year only three athletes who over the past season had got a time on the 50km less than 4:00:00 (in 2016 there were six as regard to the 2015 list).
If we expand the range ut to 4:40:00 (time around the top 100 athletes in the world on 50km), this year are in four at the start, while in 2016 there were seven.
This year in the world over 35km was only competed in Porto de Mos (POR) and the World list is leaded by Joao Vieira (POR) in 2:38:40.
The best results of 2016 instead are monopolized by the Russian athletes who had competed over this distance in Sochi on February 27, 2016.
The following is the 2016 world's list of the top 10 athletes
| Result | Pos. | Athlete | YoB | Nation | Venue | Date |
| | | | | | | |
| 2:28:29 | 1. | Sergey BAKULIN | 86 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:30:40 | 2. | Sergey KIRDYAPKIN | 80 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:31:49 | 3. | Roman YEVSTIFEYEV | 92 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:37:14 | 4. | Aleksey BARTSAYKIN | 89 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:38:06 | 5. | Andres CHOCHO | 83 | ECU | Cuenca (ECU) | 23.01 |
| 2:38:42 | 6. | Sergey SHARYPOV | 92 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:38:52 | 7. | Rolando SAQUIPAY | 79 | ECU | Cuenca (ECU) | 23.01 |
| 2:40:07 | 8. | Claudio Paulino VILLANUEVA FLORES | 88 | ECU | Cuenca (ECU) | 23.01 |
| 2:40:25 | 9. | Nikolay IVANOV | 93 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
| 2:41:34 | 10. | Aleksandr SHUNIKHIN | 92 | RUS | Sochi (RUS) | 27.02 |
Short reports.
15km U20 women
The first surprise of the day is in this category and that of Beatrice Foresti victory that ended the race on 15 km in 1:21:32.
The young athlete of Bergamo, capable last year of 54:24.08 obtained at the U20 Track Championships of Brixen on June 11, 2016, has emerged on what was one of the favorites: Chiara Cuni who finished the race in 1:23:57.
Third place to Virginia Orlandi in 1:24:28 in front of of Molly Jade Davey (1:25:50).
Eleven athletes at the start, ten of which finished the race and 1 DQ.
20km U20 men
There is not at the start the favorite Alfonso Alberga.
Victory of Fabio Barattini in 1:36:29 in his first 20km.
During 2016 the athlete of Livorno had established his personal best over the distance of 10,000m track walk in Sesto Fiorentino on May 21, 2016 with a time of 47:27.21.
Second place to Attlio Trapasso in 1:37:46.
Third place to Giacomo Vitangeli in 1:39:06.
Nine athletes at the start, eight of which finished the race and 1 DQ. Two other athletes have had a penalty of 120" as per Rule 230.7 (c).
20km women
It is not present at the start one of the two major contenders: Nicole Colombi, and this is the second surprise of the day.
Sibilla Di Vincenzo won without any difficulty in 1:40:06.
Little more than a training walk for her, who has a personal best on the distance of 1:32:10 established in Podebrady on April 10, 2010.
Second place to the U23 Giada Francesca Ciabini in 1:41:02.
Third place to Gladys Moretti in 1:44:46.
Eleven athletes at the start. Nine have completed the race, 1 DNF and 1 DQ.
35km men
Were entered in fifteen, at the start in fourteen.
The prediction of eve gave as favorite Marco De Luca on Federico Tontodonati and Michele Antonelli.
So it was: Marco De Luca won in 2:34:48.
We remember that in Rome at the IAAF Race Walk World Team Championships 2016 in 50km, his split time at the 35km was 2:36:31, while in Rio de Janeiro was 2:40:33.
Second place to Federico Tontodonati in 2:37:22.
With these results the two athletes will carry the first two positions of the current world list on 35km.
Third place went to Stefano Chiesa in 2:44:36 which arrived shortly in front of Giovanni Renò (2:45:25).
Michele Antonelli instead was disqualified shortly after 1:15 from the start. This disqualification flavored with the two red cards against the winner and the one against Tontodonati unfortunately represent the third surprise of the day.
The other athlete under observation, Gianluca Picchiottino, stated only do a test on 20km, which has completed in an unofficial time slightly higher than 1:30:00.
Below the updated world list 2017 of first 10 athletesi in 35km
| Result | Pos. | Athlete | YoB | Nation | Venue | Date |
| | | | | | | |
| 2:34:48 | 1. | Marco DE LUCA | 81 | ITA | Grosseto (ITA) | 29.01 |
| 2:37:22 | 2. | Federico TONTODONATI | 89 | ITA | Grosseto (ITA) | 29.01 |
| 2:38:40 | 3. | Joao VIEIRA | 76 | POR | Porto de Mos (POR) | 15.01 |
| 2:42:41 | 4. | Pedro ISIDRO | 85 | POR | Porto de Mos (POR) | 15.01 |
| 2:44:36 | 5. | Stefano CHIESA | 96 | ITA | Grosseto (ITA) | 29:01 |
| 2:45:16 | 6. | Miguel CARVALHO | 94 | POR | Porto de Mos (POR) | 15.01 |
| 2:45:25 | 7 | Giovanni RENO' | 91 | ITA | Grosseto (ITA) | 29:01 |
| 2:53:31 | 8. | Miguel RODRIGUES | 96 | POR | Porto de Mos (POR) | 15.01 |
| 2:58:54 | 9. | Luca MONTOLEONE | 90 | ITA | Grosseto (ITA) | 29.01 |
| 3:02:30 | 10. | Cristiano ANTÓNIO | 88 | POR | Porto de Mos (POR) | 15.01 |
8km U18 (boys)
Sixteen athletes at the start.
The expected duel between the "old" Riccardo Orsoni (YoB: 2000) and the "young" Davide Finocchietti (YoB: 2001) is resolved in favor of Riccardo Orsoni, winning in 36:17.
It has to work a little to maintain second place Davide Finocchietti (37:50).
In third place another athlete of 2001, Aldo Andrei ending the race in 38:01.
Fourteen athletes on arrival and 2 DQ.
8km U18 (girls)
Twentyone athletes at the start.
The expected duel between Sara Buglisi (YoB: 2000) and Alice Leonardi (YoB: 2000) is resolved in favor of Sara Buglisi, winning in 42:35.
Second place Alice Leonardi (42:43).
Third place to Grazia Pusillico ending the race in 42:53 in front of Alice Oblach (43:53) finally at a good level.
Seventeen athletes on arrival, 3 DNF and 1 DQ.
Leading group in 35km shortly after the start (photo by Malarby/Organizers)
Marco De Luca during the race (photo by Marcia.it)
Gianluca Picchiottino (6) and Michele Antonelli (7) durain the race (photo by Marcia.it)