For the fifth consecutive year, it was held in Eskilstuna on a 1 km lap. the 50km.
An hour before departure was raining, and at the beginning of the race the temperature was 7 degrees and a few drops of rain slightly increased after an hour. It went so far until the last part of the race the rain became strong and incessant.
50km men
Absent Anders Hansson (SWE) favorites were Perseus Karlström (SWE) and Ato Ibáñez (SWE).
The two started slowly on a pace of 5:24 on the first lap.
At fourth lap, Perseus took a short stop and Ato got a slight advantage that lasted until a little after 30 km.
These are the passages of the two:
- 5km: Ibanez (25:05) - Karlstrom (25:35)
- 10km: Ibanez (49:09) - Karlstrom (50.18)
- 15km: Ibanez (1:14:01) - Karlstrom (1:14:46)
- 20km: Ibanez (1:38:19) - Karlstrom (1:40:13) maximum advantage of 1:54
- 25km: Ibanez (2:03:43) - Karlstrom (2:04:15)
- 30km: Ibanez (2:27:55) - Karlstrom (2:28:10)
At this point of the race both Ato Ibanez and Perseus Karlstrom still had the chance to get the qualifying time (4:08:00) for the European Championships.
But to 33km, Ibanez stopped.
Perseus Karlstrom, who has finally recovered the problems that plagued him at Aroun Taihu, continued to increase his pace: he goes to 35km at 2:50:57 (22:47), but has a bounce between 35km and 40km and goes to 40km in 3:16:51 (25:54).
Then the crisis is felt and the last 10km are really difficult: at 45km he passes in 3:49:03 (32:12) and then ends the last 5km in 31:34.
So he win with a final time of 4:20:42 (2:04:15 + 2:16:27).
The other two 50km completed by Perseus Karlstrom unfortunately were up to the first:
- 5.10.2013 - 3:52:43
- 1.10.2016 - 4:06:33
and this year at 4:20:42.
Second place for Christer Svensson (SWE) in 5:26:22.
In addition to Ato Ibanez he also DNF Fredrik Sandmer (SWE) after having passed 30km in 3:11:32.
20km women
Victory to Monica Svensson (SWE) in 1:39:20 (24.45 + 25.10 + 24.58 + 24.27) (49.55 + 49.25).
We remember that Svensson has been the leader in the 50km women for years before the officiality of the season and before this year Ines Henriques broke her time in Porto de Mos, setting the first of two World Records over the distance of the season .
Second place to Jennifer Ibrahim (SWE) in 2:23.05.