Less than a week to the "27th Grand Prix International de Rio Maior em Marcha" which will take place on Saturday on the classic 1km circuit between Avenida Joao Ferreira da Maia, Praça da Repubblica, and Avenida Dr. Joao A. Calado da Maia in Rio Maior.
The final entry list has not yet been published, but the first rumors about what should be the male stars of the day already know each other.
Among the prominent names of men there are some on which should be aimed our eyes for a possible victory in Rio Maior. They are Perseus Karlstrom (BRA), Alvaro Martin (ESP), Andres Chocho (ECU) and Jin Xiangqian (CHN) a new name that is emerging this year in the race walk panorama of the Chinese Republic and is followed in Saluzzo by Sandro Damilano.
Is not yet confirmed the presence of Caio Bonfim (BRA) an habitué of Rio Maior where he has already won the edition of Apr. 5, 2014 with a time of 1:23:15.
Among the outsiders we see the interesting names of Hassanine Sbai (TUN) and Diego Garcia (ESP).
Below are their personal best and the best seasonal performances:
| Athlete | YoB | Personal best | Season best |
| | | | |
| Favoured | | | |
| KARLSTROM Perseus (SWE) | 1992 | 1:19:11 (2016) | 1:20:30 |
| MARTIN Alvaro (ESP) | 1997 | 1:19:36 (2016) | 1:21:48 |
| CHOCO Andres (ECU) | 1996 | 1.20:07 (2016) | 1:22:51 |
| JIN Xiangqian (CHN) | 1997 | 1:19:12 (2017) | 1:20:56 |
| | | | |
| Outsiders | | | |
| SBAI Hassanine (TUN) | 1984 | 1:20:20 (2011) | 1:20:35 (2017) |
| GARCIA CARRERA Diego (ESP) | 1996 | 1.20:34 (2017) | 1:23:31 |
At the level of outsider, but above all, of hope in the 20km of the Italian race walk, is Francesco Fortunato, coached by Patrizio Parcesepe in Rome.
The Apulian athlete had showed good things during the past season.
Francesco Fortunato has barely touched the first performance under 1:22:00 (1:22:01 at the World Championships in London on Aug. 13, 2017) that represents his personal best.
There are 59 seconds that separate him in terms of personal best from his friend/rival and training mates Massimo Stano (absent in Rio Maior) who obtained his personal best in 1:21:02 in Rome on Mar. 3, 2018.
If the day does not act up from the meteorological point of view for them it could be possible a time around 1:21:00 - 1:21:30 for Fortunato that could bring his friend close.
We'll see.
World season list on 20km men.
Link to the stars of women event: click here
Full start list: click here
Saturday and it will have a live broadcast via the links:
http://gpmarchariomaior.desmor.pt/
or on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Desmor.pt/