As usual excellent the organization local here in Rio Maior, this year grappling for the first time with the new rule on penalty. Who knows the course of Rio Maior certainly know also that not is state very easy to fit little before of the posting board, in Avenida Joao Ferreira da Maia, one penalty area. In each case the choice is been perfect.
Unfortunately the time not gave one hand. Immediately after the departure (between the other seems that the forecasts of the time not make any mistake never, when it would be better they make it) a storm was on the city, and to doing the expenses are the women.
Last one twenty of minutes, but the men begin to compete in the terminal phase of the rain.
20km women
At the start are in 29 the athletes.
Respect to forecasts not is match one of the favorite of the race, Lu Xiuzhi (CHN) that is remained in the Training Center in Saluzzo.
The start comes date punctually to hours 17:30.
After 22:41 from the start pass in 8 in the leading group. They are two chinese (Qieyang Shenjie and Wang Yingliu), two Spanish (Laura Garcia-Caro and Lidia Sanchez-Puebla), two Portuguese (Ines Henriques and Ana Cabecinha), Antonella Palmisano (ITA) and Erica de Sena (BRA). Laura Garcia-Caro suffers already of one red card for loss of contact.
Next lap the silver medal of London 2012, Qieyang Shenjie, force the pace. Only Erica de Sena follows the Chinese, while Antonella Palmisano, Ines Henriques and Ana Cabecinha are behind of one fifty of metres, and the other still more behind.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian this will be the error of the day.
At 10km
Qieyang Shenjie leads in 44:26 (second 5km in 21:45)
They follow in five in 44:35 (second 5km in 21:54): Antonella Palmisano, Ines Henriques, Erica de Sena, Wang Yingliu and Ana Cabecinha.
Still two laps and Erica de Sena abandon the competition.
Meanwhile Laura Garcia-Caro has received the third red card for loss of contact, and after the stop in the penalty area she continue the race. She passes to 10km in 47:13 (second 5km in 24:51 with the penalty).
The technical situation sees Chahinez Nasri (TUN) with two red card, Lula Capdevila (ESP), Laura Real (POR) with one red card.
At 15km
Always to lead the athlete of China in 1:06:00 (third 5km in 21:44)
The beautiful fight between Antonella Palmisano (ITA) and the home athlete, always applauded from crowd on the course, Ines Henriques (POR) seems resolved to favor of the italian athlete that passes in 1:06:29 (third 5km in 21:54), while the portuguese passes in 1:06:32 (third 5km in 21:57).
Fourth is Ana Cabecinha (POR) in 1:06:49 (third 5km in 22:14)
Now distant and outside from games for the first positions the second chinese Wang Yingliu (one red card for she) and Laura Garcia-Caro.
Last 5km
Qieyang Shenjie receives a red card for loss of contact, and slows a bit the pace ending the last 5km in 22:04 for a final time of 1:28:04.
Excellent second is Antonella Palmisano (ITA) that ends in 1:28:41 (last 5km in 22:12).
In raptures the local public for the third place of Ines Henriques (POR) that finishes in 1:29:15 (she also charged of one red card received in the last 5km of competition) after having covered the last 5km in 22:43). For ah athlete focoused on 50km of European Championships of Berlin 2018, and that get the third ever performance (after Rome, May 7, 2016 - 1:29:00 and Rio Maior, Apr. 9, 2016 - 1:29:14) this of today can to be considered one day extremely positive.
In fourth place arrives Ana Cabecinha (POR) in 1:29:53 (last 5km in 23:04). Follow Wang Yingliu (CHN) in 1:31:36, Laura Garcia-Caro (ESP) in 1:33:51 and Chahinez Nasri (TUN) in 1:35:09.
Updated world list in 20km women after Rio Maior and Commonwealth games (first 20 performances)
20km men
In this race are in 37 at the start.
Also in this case is to note the absence of one interesting athlete: Hassanine Sbei (TUN). The departure comes date to hours 17:42.
At 5km
They are in eight to lead the pack (21:14 - 21:16): Jin Xiangqian (CHN), Diego Garcia (ESP), Alvaro Martin (ESP), Andrès Chocho (ECU), Jose Luis Doctor (MEX), Alexandr Papamichail (GRE), Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) and Francesco Fortunato (ITA). Follows to little distance José Leyver Ojeda (MEX) that leads the group of other.
At 10km
The leading pack is reduced to six unity and passes to half competition in 41:27 (second 5km in 20:13) with a slight advantage on Francesco Fortunato (ITA) (41:30 - 20:16) and on Alexandr Papamichail (GRE) (41:32 - 20:18). Still more distant is José Leyver Ojeda (MEX) (41:40 - 20:22).
The technical situation in the leading group sees Andrès Chocho (ECU) with two red card for loss of contact and one red card to Ojeda (always for loss of contact).
At 15km
Now in first position of the leading pack is Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) in 1:01:32 (third 5km in 20:04).
Follow Diego Garcia (ESP), Alvaro Martin (ESP) in 1:01:33 (third 5km in 20:06).
Behind them still Jin Xiangqian (CHN) and Jose Luis Doctor (MEX) in 1:01:37 (third 5km in 20:10).
Still behind Francesco Fortunato (ITA) and José Leyver Ojeda (MEX) in 1:02:02 in front of Andrès Chocho (ECU) in 1:02:09.
The technical situation in the leading group sees with two red cards for loss of contact Perseus Karlstrom the leader of the race, and Jose Luis Doctor that is with the first of the chasers.
Diego Garcia is charged of one red card for loss of contact, while Alvaro Martin no.
Last 5km
Towards the 16km the third red card for loss of contact forces Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) to stop for two minutes in the penalty area, giving by free to victory to one Spanish.
Diego Garcia with the last 5km in 19:32, wins the competition in 1:21:15. Second place to Alvaro Martin in 1:22:00 (last 5km in 20:27).
He collapses suddenly Jin Xiangqian (CHN) passed by Andrès Chocho (ECU) and also by Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) after the return from the stop.
Chocho ends the last 5km in 20:15, but better of him does José Leyver Ojeda (MEX) in 19:59 obtaining the third place in 1:22:01 to a breath from the silver.
Fourth place to Andrès chocho (ECU) in 1:22:24, very good to manage the final phase of the competition.
Follow Jose Luis Doctor (MEX) in 1:22:34 and Alexandr Papamichail (GRE) in 1:22:48 that arrives in front of Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) in 1:23:07.