The first time the men and women together in the 50km in a European Championship has only one great opponent: the heat.
More than the distance to go to scare are the high temperatures: the control units speak of 20.5°C at the start and the forecast to the end of the race is over 30°C.
At the start there are 55 athletes (36 men and 19 women) representing 18 Countries (Romania is only present in the men's race, Serbia is only present in the women's race).
50km men
The last time of a European Championship on the 50km (Zurich 2014) was rewritten the history of long distance in Europe and in the World with that 3:32:33 obtained by Yohann Diniz (FRA) on the day of Middle August. Today Diniz is not present to defend his third consecutive gold.
It is worth remembering for a moment his victories which taste like a Rossinian crescendo:
- Goteborg (SWE) 2006: 3:41:39
- Barcelona (ESP) 2010: 3:40:37
- Zurich (SUI) 2014: 3:32:33.
Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) he isn't at the start, he decided to race in 20km.
- at 10km
on the 2km road course, Matej Toth (SVK) starts immediately at the lead and then decides to stay with the others.
They pass with the following times:
- 2km: in 8:14
- 4km: in 18:26
- 6km: in 27:35
- 8km: in 36:46
The pass to the first fifth of the race sees in the lead Marco de Luca (ITA) in 45:57.
With him Matej Toth (SVK), Aleksi Ojala (FIN), Mate Hellebrandt (HUN). Behind them: Brendan Boyce (IRL), Haward Haukenes (NOR), Veli-Matti Partanen (FIN) and Rafal Augustyn (POL).
- from 10km at 20km
De Luca and Toth leads with the following times:
- 12km: in 55:07
- 14km: in 1:04:19
The technical situation in the lead group sees Ojala with a red card (bent knee).
They are always in seven at the head of the race both at 16km that are covered in 1:13:33 that at 18km (1:22:44).
Force the pace shortly before 20km Matej Toth (SVK) who leads in 1:31:52.
Follows: Rafal Augustyn (POL) and Haward Haukenes (NOR) in 1:31:55 in front of Marco de Luca (ITA), Mate Hellebrandt (HUN), charged by one red card, and Veli-Matti Partanen (FIN) in 1:31:56. Below is Brendan Boyce (IRL) in 1:31:57.
- from 20km to 30km
Toth leads at 22km in 1:41:01 and at 24km in 1:50:09
Shortly before 24km Karl Junghannss (GER) were DQed.
Force the pace Matej Toth (between 24km and 26km in 9:04) who leads the race in 1:59:13.
The usual five athletes followed him: Rafal Augustyn (POL), Haward Haukenes (NOR), Marco de Luca (ITA), Veli-Matti Partanen (FIN) and below Brendan Boyce (IRL) in 1:59:48. Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) approaches 1:59:49.
The next lap always sees Matej Toth (2:08:13) in the lead followed by Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) in 2:08:37 in front of Haward Haukenes (2:08:41).
The third fifth of the race sees this situation:
- Matej Toth (SVK) in 2:17:17
- Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) in 2:17:28
- Dzimitry Dziubin (BLR) in 2:15:45
Followed by: Haward Haukenes (NOR), Rafal Augustyn (POL), Brendan Boyce (IRL), Veli-Matti Partanen (FIN) and Marco de Luca (ITA).
- from 30km to 40km
Immediately after the 30km Toth was catched by Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) who broke it off.
At 32km Zakalnytskyy leads in 2:26:15 in front of Toth (2:26:19), Haukenes (2:26:40) and Dziubin (2:26:42).
Ai 34km Zakalnytskyy leads in 2:35:01 in front of Toth (2:35:20), Haukenes (2:35:31) and Dziubin (2:35:38).
At 36km Zakalnytskyy leads in 2:43:51 in front of Haukenes (2:44:29), who has just passed Toth (2:44:23) and Dziubin (2:44:36). Toth seems to be suffering a lot.
At 38km Zakalnytskyy leads in 2:52:43 in front of Haukenes (2:53:16), which is charged with a red card. Toth is 1" from Haukenes and Dziubin at 11" from Toth. In fifth position Carl Dohmann (GER) in 2:54:21.
The pass to the 40km sees Maryan Zakalnytskyy in the lead (3:01:38), in front of of Dzimitry Dziubin (3:02:10) and Haward Haukenes (3:02:11). Matej Toth still loses ground.
- from 40km to 50km
Continue with his pace Maryan Zakalnytskyy (3:10:37 to 42km).
At 44km he is still in the lead at 3:19:39, followed by Dzimitry Dziubin and Haward Haukenes (3:20:10). Fourth is Matej Toth (3:20:40). Carl Dohmann (GER) in 3:21:35 id fifth.
Two laps to the end Maryan Zakalnytskyy is always in the lead in 3:28:37, followed by Dzimitry Dziubin (3:29:30) and Haward Haukenes (3:29:31). Fourth is Matej Toth (3:29:48) followed by Carl Dohmann (GER) in 3:30:56.
Great reaction from Matej Toth who reaches the bell Dzimitry Dziubin (3:38:38) and surpasses it soon after. The determination of the champion is also seen in the crisis.
Vcrory to Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) in 3:46:32
Second place to Matej Toth (SVK) in 3:47:27
Third place to Dzimitry Dziubin (BLR) in 3:47:59
Fourth place to Haward Haukenes (NOR) in 3:48:35
Fifth place to Carl Dohmann (GER) in 3:50:27
Maryan Zakalnytskyy (UKR) certainly can not be considered a surprise, as it was last May in Taicang.
A linear performance his. The athlete did nothing more than repeating the competition strategy positively shown in Taicang.
A first part of the race (we estimated the time at 25km in 1:55:21 interpolating the one at 24km - 1:50:53 with the one at 26km - 1:59:49) slower than the second part (1:51:11) leads to today's result of 3:46:32.
In Taicang he divided the two halves of the race in 1:54:13 (25km) and then finished the second part in 1:50:26.
Its a strategy that once again proved to be a guideline for the victory.
50km women
The first time instead of a European Championship on 50km after a World Championship (London 2017) and two World Team Championships (Rome 2018 and Taicang 2018), but especially with the last two races in London and Taicang with a new world record.
The dream today, but we think it will remain so, will be to see a woman get off under 4:00:00, the wall that divides elite males from normality.
- at 10km
The pass to the first fifth of the race sees in the lead Ines Henriques (POR) in 48:20.
Second place to Natassia Yastsevich (BLR) in 51:13.
Third place to Maria Czakova (SVK) in 51:29
Follows: yhree Ukranian, Alina Tsviliy (51:56), Khrystyna Yudkina (52:12) nd Vasylyna Vitovshchyk (52:15) carged by two red cards
- from 10km at 20km
In the women Anett Torma (HUN) was disqualified before 14km, while Natassia Yastsevich (BLR) who had passed second at 10km abandon the race probably due to injury.
Ai 16km leads Ines Henriques (POR) in 1:17:25 and at 18km in 1:27:02.
Ines Henriques (POR) leads at 20km in 1:36:40, ij front of three Ukranian: Alina Tsviliy (1:41.15), Vasylyna Vitovshchyk (1:41.15), and Khrystyna Yudkina (1:42:56) who in turn precedes Maria Czakova (SVK) in 1:43:03.
- from 20km at 30km
At 22km leads Ines Henriques (POR) in 1:46:21 and 18km in 1:56:07.
It is under 22km, JulIa Takacs (ESP) who passes in sixth position in 1:53:49.
The third fifth of the race sees these situation:
- Ines Henriques (POR) in 2:25:18
- Alina Tsviliy (2:30:13), Vasylyna Vitovshchyk (2:31:17) in front of Khrystyna Yudkina catched by Julia Takacs (2:34:18)
- from 30km at 40km
At 34 km Julia Takacs is in fourth position.
At 36km Ines Henriques (POR) leads the race in 2:25:18. In second place Alina Tsviliy (2:59:58).
Ai 38km Julia Takacs is ih third place (3:14:26) after Ines Henriques (3:04:58) and Alina Tsviliy (3:10:13).
At 40km Ines Henriques leads the race in 3:15:16 ahead of Alina Tsviliy (3:30:46); Julia Takacs is third (3:14:26)
- from 40km to 50km
The race after 40km has hardly anything to say.
Always in head Ines Henriques (42km: 3:25:44 - 44km: 3:36:27 - 46km: 3:47:25).
At 44km Alina Tsviliy (UKR) is still in second place (3:51:54).
The last 6km tell us only:
- the victory of Ines Henriques (POR) in 4:09:21
- the second place for Alina Tsviliy (UKR) in 4:12:44
- third place for Julia Takacs (ESP) in 4:15:22
The last part of the story is the beautiful performance of Mariavittoria Becchetti (ITA), able along with six other athletes to touch up their personal best of more than eight minutes on this torrid day (4:31:41).
The others are the three Ukrainians, the Spanish Mar Juarez and the two representatives of the Balkans: Dusica Topic, to the national record of Serbia and Ivana Renic to the national record of Croatia.