The long lake of Lugano is always very beautiful to see, but on a rainy morning and with a temperature around 7°C the beauty of the scenery leaves room for some recrimination.
20km women
We start with the women whose departure is scheduled for 9:30 am.
Eleonora Anna Giorgi (ITA) immediately took the lead, passing over 5km with a time of 22:19, walking at an average of 4:27/km.
The passage to a quarter of the race sees in second position Anezka Drahotova (CZE) in 22:27 and in third position Bethan Davies (GBR) in 22:58.
The others, led by Nicole Colombi, follow a certain distance (23:51 for Colombi)
At 10km it changes very little and the race can be said already decided, so great is the gap between the first two and the other.
Giorgi passed in 44:49 and Drahotova in 44:59.
Bethan Davies follows in 45:50.
Between 10 and 12km the Drahotova recovers a few seconds to Giorgi, who reacts immediately and still forces the pace.
At 12km only 7" separate Giorgi from Drahotova: 53:58 for Giorgi and 54:05 for Drahotova.
In the last 8km Eleonora Anna Giorgi manages to maintain the pace of 4:34/km (36:35), while Anezka Drahotova gives in to 4:36/km (36:51).
Victory to Eleonora Anna Giorgi (ITA) in 1:30:33 (average of 4:31/km).
Second place to Anezka Drahotova (CZE) in 1:30:56
Third place to Bethan Davies (GBR) in 1:31:53 new personal best, previous of 1:33:04 obtained in Leeds, GBR on June 25, 2017.
Two athletes disqualified: Chahinez Nasri (TUN) and Saskia Feige (GER).
20km men
The success of the Japanese athletes was in the air and so it was.
They are four in front of the race at 5km in the group led by Kouki Ikeda (JPN). The other three: Tom Bosworth, Masatora Kawano and Stefano Chiesa. They pass at 5km in 20:45-20:47.
Shortly thereafter Bosworth and the two Japanese force the pace and pass the 10km leading in 40:51 (4:05/km average)
After half of the race it's the time of the two Japanese to force and take a few meters in front of Bosworth passing at 12km in 48:54 (48:57 for Bosworth).
Behind them is Stefano Chiesa (ITA) (5km: 20:47 - 10km: 41:28 - 12km 49:32) who fights for a good position with Isaac Palma (MEX), who at 10km was ahead of almost 30" (40:50 for Palma and 41:28 for the Church).
More distanced Alex Wright (IRL) passes to 12km in 49:40
The final sees Tom Bosworth (GBR) try to catch the two Japanese, but only the fight with Masatora Kawano succeed.
Victory to Kouki Ikeda (JPN) in 1:21:26.
This athlete born on May 3, 1998 (not yet twenty) came to the national stage in Japan on Oct. 22, 2017 as to Takahata (JPN) was able to his second 20km of a time of 1:20:48 (the first in 1:22:33 in Nomi, JPN on March 19, 2017).
On the other hand he had already obtained in the same year on the shortest distance the following results:
- 10km road: 40:34 in Kobe, JPN on Feb. 19, 2017
- 10,000m track: 40:28.48 in Fukuroi, JPN on Sep. 9, 2017.
This year, in Kobe last Feb. 18, 2018, at the National Championships of Japan of 20km the leap in quality with the fourth place at the foot of the podium and with the personal best of 1:19:13.
If Nomi in 2017 was his first international experience on 20km, that of today was the first experience outside of Japan and ended with a victory.
Imagine that we will hear about him in the future.
Second place to Tom Bosworth (GBR) in 1:21:28
Third place to Masatora Kawano (JPN) in 1:21:31
Great fourth place with the new personal best to Stefano Chiesa (ITA) in 1:21:46.
The previous personal best was only obtained last Sunday in Rome in 1:22:32.
Three athletes were disqualified (all other representatives of Great Britain): Guy Thomas, Cameron Corbishley and Callum Wilkinson.
The start of 20km men
U20 women podium
Posting board