As we announced, we are now looking to explore some hypotheses about what the fight for medals in 20km women of the Europan Cup in Podebrady 2017 will be.
At the moment we are not aware of all the names that will be participating because some nations are completing these decision-making processes right now.
So we can only make assumptions that if they are not supported by reality will still be a discrete exercise of analysis.
Best competitors
Starting from the assumption that all teams enter athletes who score the best results in this season (the problem particularly concerns Spain having seven athletes in the best 20 and selected only Amanda Cano, Maria Perez, Laura Garcia-Caro, and Lidia Sanchez-Puebla) Marcia dal Mondo think that the fight for medals will be among:
- two athletes from Spain: Lidia Sanchez-Puebla and Laura Garcia-Caro
- one athlete from Lithuania: Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene
- two athletes from Portugal: Ana Cabecinha and Ines Henriques
- an athlete from the Czech Republic: Anežka Drahotova (although this season's performance is not the same as in the past seasons and with the doubt whether she will compete),
It remains to be seen which are the athletes of Italy.
It's reasonable to think that if Antonella Palmisano's start up his recent 10,000m on track (41:57.29) it would automatically lead him to be the number one favorite for victory. In the meantime is slow the actual recovery after Eleonora Anna Giorgi's end-of-year 2016 surgery, and probably she doesn't compete in Podebrady.
Personal best and season best
In the following table the personal best and season best of previous athltetes in 20km (if not otherwise indicated)
| Athlete | Nation | Personl best | Year of PB | Season best |
| | | | | |
| Lidia Sanchez-Puebla | ESP | 1:30:57 | 2017 | 1:30:57 |
| Laura Garcia Caro | ESP | 1:29:32 | 2015 | 1:31:33 |
| Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene | LTU | 1:30:15 | 2011 | 1:30:55 |
| Ana Cabecinha | POR | 1:27:46 | 2008 | 1:31:47 |
| Ines Henriques | POR | 1:29:00 | 2016 | 1:32:15 |
| Anezka Drahotova | CZE | 1:26:53 | 2015 | 1:33:18 |
| Antonella Palmisano | ITA | 1:27:51 | 2014 | 41:57.29 (10.000m track) |
Direct clash over the period 2014-2017
We now analyze each individual athlete for direct clash with all the others in the period under review to give our readers a complete insight into what could happen to Podbrady.
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene (0-0)
There are no direct clashes
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Laura Garcia-Caro (2-2)
| Competition | Date | Result | Sanchez-Puebla | Garcia-Caro | Result |
| | | | | | |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.2015 | 1:34:58 | 10th | 11th | 1:35:01 |
| Motril, ESP | 28.02.2016 | 1:36:07 | 7th | 5th | 1:35:39 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 28.05.2016 | DNF | - | 19th | 1:33:53 |
| Merida, ESP | 02.04.2017 | 1:30:57 | 1st | 2nd | 1:31:33 |
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Ana Cabecinha (0-1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Sanchez-Puebla | Cabecinha | Result |
| | | | | | |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.2015 | 1:34:58 | 10th | 4th | 1:30:19 |
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Ines Henriques (0-2)
| Competition | Date | Result | Sanchez-Puebla | Henriques | Result |
| | | | | | |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.2015 | 1:34:58 | 10th | 7th | 1:32:08 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 28.05.2016 | DNF | - | 3rd | 1:29:28 |
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Anezka Drahotova (0-1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Sanchez-Puebla | Drahotova | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 48:07 | 15th | 3rd | 43:40 |
Lidia Sanchez-Puebla vs. Antonella Palmisano (0-0)
There are no direct clashes
Laura Garcia-Caro
Laura Garcia-Caro vs. Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene (1-2)
| Competition | Date | Result | Garcia-Caro | Virbalyte-Dimsiene | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:29:32 | 10th | 14th | 1:30:37 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:36:22 | 32nd | 7th | 1:30:20 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 09.04.2016 | 1:33:24 | 10th | 8th | 1:30:48 |
Laura Garcia-Caro vs. Ana Cabecinha (0-5)
| Competition | Date | Result | Garcia-Caro | Cabecinha | Result |
| | | | | | |
| La Coruna, ESP | 31.05.2014 | 1:34:50 | 12th | 4th | 1:30:12 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:29:32 | 10th | 9th | 1:28:28 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.2015 | 1:35:01 | 11th | 4th | 1:30:19 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:36:22 | 32nd | 4th | 1:29:29 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 19.08.2016 | 1:33:24 | 10th | 6th | 1:29:23 |
Laura Garcia-Caro vs. Ines Henriques (1-5)
| Competition | Date | Result | Garcia-Caro | Henriques | Result |
| | | | | | |
| La Coruna, ESP | 31.05.2014 | 1:34:50 | 12th | 5th | 1:30:49 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:29:32 | 10th | 16th | 1:30:44 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.2015 | 1:35:01 | 11th | 7th | 1:32:08 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:36:22 | 32nd | 23rd | 1:34:47 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 19.08.2016 | 1:33:24 | 10th | 5th | 1:29:14 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 28.05.2016 | 1:33:53 | 19th | 3rd | 1:29:28 |
Laura Garcia-Caro vs. Anezka Drahotova (0-3)
| Competition | Date | Result | Garcia-Caro | Drahotova | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:29:32 | 10th | 4th | 1:26:53 |
| Tallin, EST | 10.07.2015 | 1:31:52 | 4th | 2nd | 1:27:25 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:36:22 | 32nd | 8th | 1:30:32 |
Laura Garcia-Caro vs. Antonella Palmisano (0-1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Garcia-Caro | Palmisano | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:36:22 | 32nd | 5th | 1:29:34 |
Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene
Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene vs. Ana Cabecinha (1-6)
| Competition | Date | Result | Virbalyte-Dimsiene | Cabecinha | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:31:24 | 34th | 8th | 1:27:49 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:32:46 | 18th | 6th | 1:28:40 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:30:37 | 14th | 9th | 1:28:28 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:30:20 | 7th | 4th | 1:29:29 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 09.04.2016 | 1:30:48 | 8th | 9th | 1:31:17 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:31:52 | 21st | 6th | 1:28:40 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:35:11 | 29th | 6th | 1:29:23 |
Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene vs. Ines Henriques (2-5)
| Competition | Date | Result | Virbalyte-Dimsiene | Henriques | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:31:24 | 34th | 22nd | 1:29:33 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:32:46 | 18th | 13th | 1:31:32 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:30:37 | 14th | 16th | 1:30:44 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:30:20 | 7th | 23rd | 1:34:47 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 09.04.2016 | 1:30:48 | 8th | 5th | 1:31:17 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:31:52 | 21st | 8th | 1:29:00 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:35:11 | 29th | 12th | 1:31:28 |
Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene vs. Anezka Drahotova (2-5)
| Competition | Date | Result | Virbalyte-Dimsiene | Drahotova | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Lugano, SUI | 16.03.2014 | 1:32:48 | 10th | 3rd | 1:28:13 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:32:46 | 18th | 13th | 1:31:32 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:30:37 | 14th | 4th | 1:26:53 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:30:20 | 7th | 8th | 1:30:32 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:31:52 | 21st | 19th | 1:31:15 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:35:11 | 29th | 10th | 1:30:43 |
| Lugano, SUI | 19.03.2017 | 1:32:17 | 1st | 4th | 1:34:19 |
Brigita Virbalyte-Dimsiene vs. Antonella Palmisano (0-5)
| Competition | Date | Result | Virbalyte-Dimsiene | Palmisano | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:31:24 | 34th | 9th | 1:27:51 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:32:46 | 18th | 7th | 1:28:43 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:30:20 | 7th | 5th | 1:29:34 |
| Alythus, LTU | 10.06.2016 | 1:31:34 | 5th | 1st | 1:30:11 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:35:11 | 29th | 4th | 1:29:03 |
Ana Cabecinha vs. Ines Henriques (16-3)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cabecinha | Henriques | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Quarteiro, POR | 01.02.2014 | 1:30:36 | 1st | 3rd | 1:32:10 |
| Chihuahua, MEX | 22.02.2014 | 1:33:29 | 2nd | 4th | 1:34:02 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 05.04.2014 | DNF | - | 3rd | 1:32:03 |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:27:49 | 8th | 22nd | 1:29:33 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 31.05.2014 | 1:30:19 | 4th | 5th | 1:30:49 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:28:40 | 6th | 13th | 1:31:32 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 31.01.2015 | 1:31:14 | 1st | 2nd | 1:33:32 |
| Chihuahua, MEX | 07.03.2015 | 1:33:26 | 3rd | 4th | 1:33:37 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 18:04.2015 | 1:29:27 | 1st | 2nd | 1:29:52 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:28:28 | 9th | 16th | 1:30:40 |
| La Coruna, ESP | 06.06.10\5 | 1:30:19 | 4th | 7th | 1:32:08 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:29:29 | 4th | 23th | 1:34:47 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 09.04.2016 | 1:31:17 | 9th | 5th | 1:29:14 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:28:40 | 6th | 8th | 1:20:00 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:29:23 | 6th | 12th | 1:31:28 |
| S.Joao Madeira, POR | 04.03.2017 | 1:32:14 | 1st | 2nd | 1:32.28 |
| Ciudad Juarez, MEX | 12.03.2017 | 1:31:47 | 3rd | 4th | 1:32:34 |
| Monterrey, MEX | 19.03.2017 | 1:34:16 | 3rd | 2nd | 1:33:21 |
| Rio Maior, POR | 01.04.2017 | 1:31:54 | 3rd | 4th | 1:32:15 |
Ana Cabecinha vs. Anezka Drahotova (4-2)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cabecinha | Drahotova | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:28:40 | 6th | 3rd | 1:28:08 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:28:28 | 9th | 4th | 1:26:53 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:29:29 | 4th | 8th | 1:30:32 |
| Dudince, SVK | 19.03.2016 | 1:29:11 | 3rd | 6th | 1:30:21 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:28:40 | 6th | 19th | 1:31:15 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:29:23 | 6th | 10th | 1:30:43 |
Ana Cabecinha vs. Antonella Palmisano (3-1)
| Competition | Date | Result | Cabecinha | Palmisano | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:27:49 | 8th | 9th | 1:27:51 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:28:40 | 6th | 7th | 1:28:43 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:29:29 | 4th | 5th | 1:29:34 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:29:23 | 6th | 4th | 1:29:03 |
Ines Henriques
Ines Henriques vs. Anezka Drahotova (1-4)
| Competition | Date | Result | Henriques | Drahotova | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:31:32 | 13th | 3rd | 1:28:08 |
| Murcia, ESP | 17.05.2015 | 1:30:44 | 16th | 4th | 1:26:53 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:34:47 | 23rd | 8th | 1:30:32 |
| Roma, ITA | 07.05.2016 | 1:29:00 | 8th | 19th | 1:31:15 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:31:28 | 12th | 10th | 1:30:43 |
Ines Henriques vs Antonella Palmisano (0-4)
| Competition | Date | Result | Henriques | Palmisano | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Taicang, CHN | 03.05.2014 | 1:29:33 | 22nd | 9th | 1:27:51 |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:31:32 | 13th | 7th | 1:28:43 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:34:47 | 23rd | 5th | 1:29:34 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:31:28 | 12th | 4th | 1:29:03 |
Anezka Drahotova
Anezka Drahotova contro Antonella Palmisano (1-3)
| Competition | Date | Result | Henriques | Palmisano | Result |
| | | | | | |
| Zurich, SUI | 14.08.2014 | 1:28:08 | 3rd | 7th | 1:28:43 |
| Dudince, SVK | 21.03.2015 | 1:30:22 | 5th | 3rd | 1:28:40 |
| Beijing, CHN | 28.08.2015 | 1:30:32 | 8th | 5th | 1:29:34 |
| Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 19.08.2016 | 1:30:43 | 10th | 4th | 1:29:03 |