On Sunday 4th October the classic 50km race took place in Tilburg (NED), valid for the Dutch national championship of the 50km and for the same women's national championship of the 10km.
These National Walking Championships were hit by a strong wind (and some rain) which generally affected the signs produced on a flat circuit of 1569 meters.
50km men
The young French international David Kuster (FRA), 21, had declared at the first outings of the season that he wanted to try his hand at a 50km, to get a good result.
And so it was.
David Kuster's victory was never questioned and the young French athlete finished his inaugural 50km in 4:01:24, which represents the new French U23 record (previous by Bertrand Moulinet, in 4:04:13 obtained in Roubaix on 25.10.2009)
After a fairly regular first half of the race and an increase in pace between 20km and 30km, with the following splits:
- 10km: 47:48
- 20km: 1:37:27 (47:39)
- 30km: 2:22:10 (44:43)
David Kuster suffered a slight dip between 30km and 40km
- 40km: 3:08:36 (46:26)
to then encounter some difficulties in the last part of the race when he covered the last 10km in 52:48.
Second place to Paul Jansen (NED) in 4:43:35 who becomes National Champion of the 50km with a personal best of 4:43:35 (54:58, 53:52, 53:51, 59:19 and 1:01:35).
The other places on the podium were occupied by Rob Tersteeg (NED) in 4:56:47, and Remco de Bruin (NED) in 4:58:19.
Eleven athletes participated.
10km women
Also in this race there was a solo by a foreign athlete.
Ana Monteiro (POR) won the race in 50:17
Second place to Anne van Angel (NED) in 56:42
Third place to Loes van Bremen (NED) in 1:07:08