Rainy day with an initial temperature of 22°C. with a splendid glance at the departure of men and women.
50km men
They pass the first lap of two km in 9:20 and immediately in the lead are five: Hirooki Arai, Kay Kobayashi, Satoshi Maruo, Yuki Ito, Hayato Katuski, all of Japan together with Perseus Karstrom (SWE) and Karl Junghanns (GER).
After 4km Arai, Kobayashi, and Maruo pass in 19:41 along with Karlstrom and Junghanns with a few meters ahead of Ito and Katsuki.
The passage to the 5km takes place in 22:53 with a prospective time at the arrival of 3:49:00.
At 10km
They are always in five heads and pass in 45:27-45:28 with the second 5km in 22:34.
The group is led by Hirooki Arai.
The next round Evan Dunfee (CAN) force the pace and catched Hayato Katuski.
Karl Junghanns (GER) lost positions and are approaching Aleksi Ojala (FIN) and Quentin Rew (NZL).
15km are covered in 1:07:49 (third 5km in 22:22).
He gives Kay Kobayashi a few meters and is also catched by Evan Dunfee.
At 20km
They lead the group Maruo, Arai (1:30:06), Karstrom and Dunfee (1:30:07), while Kobayashi has lost 10".
Fourth 5km are covered in 22:17.
Meanwhile, Aleksi Ojala (FIN) who was already stopped in the Pit Lane Area for 5 minutes is reached by the fourth red card and then is disqualified.
The four leaders go to 25km in 1:59:29 with the fifth 5km covered in 22:23..
Follows: Karl Junghanns (1:52:47), Hayato Katuski (1:53:16), Quentin Rew (1:53:22), Wang Qin (1:53:29) e Kay Kobayashi (1:53:44).
Yuki Ito (JPN) is stopped in the Pit Stop Area and the same happens shortly after for Karl Junghanns (GER).
At 30km
The leaders are: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom and Evan Dunfee passing in 2:14:56 (the 6th 5km in 22:37).
The first four pass to 35km in 2:37:22 (the 7th 5km in 22:26).
Meanwhile, Kay Kobayashi decides to end his fatigue.
Follows: Hayato Katuski (2:38:07), Wang Qin (2:38:07) and Quentin Rew (2:38:42).
At 40km
The leaders are: Hirooki Arai, Satoshi Maruo, Perseus Karstrom in 2:59:56 (the 8th 5km are covered in 22:34).
Followed by Hayato Katuski (3:00:25), Wang Qin (3:00:35) who passed Evan Dunfee (3:00:31)
Shortly thereafter, Arai forces the pace and cuts off Karlstrom and Maruo.
Last 5km
At 45km leds Arai (3:22:13) followed by Hayato Katuski (3:22:22), Wang Qin (3:22:30), Satoshi Maruo (3:22:31), Perseus Karstrom ( 3:22:40).
The games seem to be made at least for the team competition.
At 38km Katuski reaches Arai and continue shoulder to shoulder.
Victory to Hirooki Arai (JPN) in 3:44:25
Second place to Hayato Katuski (JPN) in 3:44:31
Third place to Satoshi Maruo (JPN) in 3:44:52.
Fourth place in surprise to Maryan Zakalnytstyi (UKR) in 3:44:59
Fifth place to Wang Quin (CHN) in 3:35:29.
Team standings
There can be no doubt about the team victory of Japan (points 6).
Followed by Ukraine (points 29) and Poland (points 37) for the best placement of the third athlete beats China (points 37).
Fifth place to Spain (points 67)
Sixth place to Germany (points 74)
Seventh place to Italy (points 76)
Eight place to Sweden (punti 86).
50km women
At 5km in the lead there are: Ines Henriques (POR), Yin Han (CHN), Claire Tallent (AUS) and Li Maocuo (CHN) in 24:38, with a prospective time at the arrival of 4:06:30.
At 10km
Six in the lead: Ines Henriques (POR), Yin Han (CHN), Claire Tallent (AUS), Li Maocuo (CHN), Rui Liang (CHN), Kang Zhou (CHN) and pass in 49:04-49:05.
The passage to the 15km happens in 1:13:36 (thirds 5km in 24:32) and they remain in five; Kang Zhou (CHN) who lost 10" from the first.
At 20km
They are always five in the top of the race and they pass in 1:38:12 with the fourth 5km covered in 24:36.
Zhou Kang (1:40:01) was joined and passed by team-mate Ma Faying (1:29:10).
As if that was not enough, she ends shortly afterwards in the Pit Lane Area for his 5-minute penalty and will be after DQed.
The passage to the 15km is in 2:02:51 (third 5km in 24:39) and remain in four.
Next: Claire Tallent (2:02:57), Ma Faying (2:04:07), Paola Viviana Perez (2:05:25) and more behind Julia Takacs (2:07:47).
At 30km
The turning point just before the 29th km.
Ines Henriques stops for physical problems.
The transition to 30km sees in the lead: Yin Han (CHN), Claire Tallent (AUS), Li Maocuo (CHN), Rui Liang (CHN) in 2:28:17.
They follow: Ma Faying (2:29:11), Paola Viviana Perez (2:30:05), Magaly Bonilla and Johanna Ordones (2:32:57) and more behind Julia Takacs (2:33:07).
Further turning to the 35km where the three Chinese pass decisively in head in 2:52:53 (7th 5km in 24:36). They follow Claire Tallent (2:53:34), Ma Faying (2:54:21), Paola Viviana Perez (2:54:40).
At 40km
Rui Liang (CHN) leads in 3:17:14 in front of Li Maocuo (3:17:15), Yin Han (3:17:40) and Claire Tallent (3:19:12).
The 8th 5km were covered in 24:21
Following is Paola Viviana Perez (3:19:36).
Last 5km
After passing to 45km in 3:40:50, Rui Liang (CHN) still forces the the pace and flies to the new world record.
Victory in 4:04:36 new world record.
Second place to Yin Han (CHN) in 4:09:09
Third place, and the arrival with a beautiful smile, to Claire Tallent (AUS) in 4:09:33
Fourth place to Paola Viviana Perez (ECU) in 4:12:56.
Fifth place to Ma Faying (CHN) in 4:13:28.
Team stansings
There can be no doubt about the team victory of China (points 8).
Second place to Ecuador (points 21)
Third place to Ukraine (points 40)
Fourth place to Spain (points 41)
Full results of first day (with split times) in the section Results or directly download from this link: click here
Photo album by Giancarlo Colombo for Fidal: click here