First start the 10,000m race on men's track in Bydgoszcz for the U23 European Championships, where Italy has good hopes with Gianluca Picchiottino and Andrea Agrusti.
20km road walk men
The race is immediately headed by Karl Junghannss (GER) who goes to 2km at 8:17
The group is set to walk under the push of Jean Blancheteau (FRA) in front of Diego Garcia (ESP), Salih Korkmaz (TUR), Gabriel Bordier (FRA) and Martin Bermudez (ESP).
In the group there are Gianluca Picchiottino (ITA) and Andrea Agrusti (ITA), while the other Italian, Stefano Chiesa, is a few meters away.
Up to 10 km the leader is Jean Blancheteau (FRA) with these split times:
- and 4km: 16:34 (8:17)
- at 6km: 25:00 (8:26)
- at 8km: 33:35 (8:25)
- and 10km: 41:53 (8:18).
What's most enjoyable in the leading group is Diego Garcia (ESP) from the very graze walk and beautiful to see.
After halfway Diego Garcia forced the pace and headed for some laps with Salih Korkmaz (TUR) and then alone.
Garcia pass to 12km in 50:03 (8:10), at 14km at 58:10 (8:07) and at 16km at 1:06:12 (8:02).
These three very fast passages favoured the detaching of Salih Korkmaz (TUR), which is then reached by Karl Junghannss (GER) and Gabriel Bordier (FRA).
The technical situation (both of them fighting for the medal, except for Diego Garcia, are burdened with two red cards) also plays both sides and the athletes prefers to mzintain the position instead to risk.
Vicotry to Diego Garcia (ESP) in 1:22:29
Second place to Karl Junghannss (GER) in 1:22.52
Third place to Gabriel Bordier (FRA) in 1:23:03 new personal best (previous 1:23:50 obtained at Podebrady on April 8, 2017).
After the medals.
Fourth place to: Salih Korkmaz (TUR) in 1: 23.11
Fifth: Manuel Bermudez (ESP) in 1:23:12
Sixth: Jonathan Hilbert (GER) in 1:23:26
Seventh: Andrea Agrusti (ITA) in 1:23:28 (new personal best; previous of 1:24:09 established in Cassino, ITA on March 26, 2017)
Eighth: Jean Blancheteau (FRA) in 1:25:10
20km road walk women
Even in this race, Italians are presented with a third of all respect, together with Spain.
They immediately head the Spanish athletes with Laura Garcia Caro who drives the group to
- 2km in 9:21
- 4km at 18:34 (9:13)
She is then picked by fellow countryman Maria Perez (ESP) who will lead the race across the central part.
The split times are as follows:
- 6km: 27:31 (8:57)
- 8km: 36:33 (9:01)
- 10km in 45:37 (9:04)
But already between the eighth and tenth km the technical situation is felt.
The first to pay it is Nicole Colombi (ITA) out of the race with two red cards for loss of contact and one for bent knee.
Between 11km and 12 the same fate goes to Laura Garcia Caro (ESP) (also for her two red cards for loss of contact and one for bent knee). We will return later on this subject !
The other two Italian ar half race: Eleonora Dominici (7th in 46:32) and Diana Cacciotti (10th in 46:54)
The head of the group is diluted under the push of Maria Perez.
- and 12km: in 54:53 (9:18)
- and 14km in 1:04:00 (9:07)
At 15km are headed in two Maria Perez (ESP) which was reached by Klavdyia Afanasyeva (ANA) and both passed in 1:13:06
The following are: Zivilie Vaiciukeviciute (LTU) in 1:13:47 and Viktoryia Rashchupkina (BLR) in 1:14:09 in front of Eleonora Dominici (ITA) in 1:14:50
At 16km Lidia Sanchez-Puebla (ESP) reached the team-mate and the Russian competing independently and headed (1:11:59) despite the two red cards at her side. Shortly afterwards she will be disqualified.
Klavdyia Afanasyeva (ANA) force the pace and the race seems to have been ended for the fight for medals.
Vicotry to Klavdyia Afanasyeva (ANA) in 1:31:15
Second place to Maria Perez (ESP) in 1:31:29
Third placeto Zivilie Vaiciukeviciute (LTU) in 1:23:03
After the medals.
Fourth place to: Viktoryia Rashchupkina (BLR) in 1: 33.16
Fifth: Eleonora Dominici (ITA) in 1:33:32
Sixth: Emilia Lehmeyer (GER) in 1:34:24
Seventh: Anezka Drahotova (CZE) in 1:34:51
Eighth: Diana Cacciotti (ITA) in 1:25:39
Short technical comment
In the two races the following red cards were sent by the jury
| Race | Red cards | Bent knee | % | Loss of contact | % |
| | | | | | |
| Men | 27 | 10 | 37,04% | 17 | 62,96% |
| Women | 25 | 12 | 48,00% | 13 | 52,00% |
| Totale | 52 | 22 | 42,41% | 30 | 57,69% |
There are DQ'ed in total seven athletes:
Men: 1 HUN, 1 BLR e 1 GER
Women: 2 ESP, 1 ITA e 1 ROU
Up to 21 red cards that produced these disqualifications 11 are due for loss of contact and 10 for ben knee.
Klavdyia Afanasyeva leads the race (photo by Giancarlo Colombo per Fidal)