As we anticipated on December 9, the end-of-season classic in China, “Around Taihu”, survived the Covid-19 pandemic.
Obviously, the pandemic restrictions that impose a quarantine on those who must enter China have not allowed an international presence this year and the chosen format has necessarily been reduced.
But the will and the courage to keep this international competition going we imagine will be rewarded.
The competition days were reduced to two and this morning (10:05 China time, 3:05 in Europe) the two races of the first day on the 15km distance took place.
15km men
Immediately after the start a group of seven athletes is formed who will lead most of the race.
Among them Zhang Jun, Wang Kaihua, and Gao Yinchao.
The passage to 5km sees in the lead paired Wang Kauhua (19:16) and Zhang Jun (19:17) who are followed a few seconds by Gao Yinchao (19:22)
In the second part of the race, between 5km and 10km, we witness a splendid progression of Zhang Jun who passes to 10km in 38:03 (5km seconds in 18:46). The young Chinese manages to break the more experienced Wang Kaihua who passes in 38:16 (5km seconds in 19:00). Gao Yinchao (19:53 in the seconds 5km) is now far away and passes in 39:15)
In the last 5km Zhang Jun continues with his pace (19:07 in the third 5km) and goes to win the 15km in 57:10
Wang Kaihua gives again and covers the last 5km in 19:34, finishing second in 57:50
Third is Gao Yinchao (19:08 in the third 5km) in 58.23 who wins a head-to-head with fourth place in Sun Shuai (58:24)
Fifth place to Zhong Heng in 58:29
Sixth place in Cai Zelin in 58:57
Seventh place to Wen Yongjie in 59:51
Eighth place to Li Kewqen in 1:00:05
15km women
Completely solo race by Yang Jiayu.
At 5km the London 2017 world champion passes in 20:53 and already has an advantage of 55" with Lu Xiuzhi and Qieyang Shenjie following her in 21:48
In the second part of the race while Yang Jiayu continues with her pace, the two opponents increase the pace in the hope of some failure of the leader and a possible recovery. Their steps are:
Yang Jiayu in 41:49 (20:53 + 20:56)
Lu Xiuzhi in 43:10 (21:48 + 21:22)
Qieyang Shenjie in 43:11 (21:48 + 21:23)
but they soon realize that there is no failure at the head of the race and will return in the last part of the race to the times of the first 5km.
Victory to Yang Jiayu in 1:02:43 (with the last 5km in 20:54)
Second place to Lu Xiuzhi in 1:04:55 (with the last 5km in 21:45)
Third place in Qieyang Shenjie in 1:04:56 (with the last 5km in 21:45)
Fourth place to Jiang Jinyan in 1:05:37
Fifth place to Ma Zhenxia in 1:06:18
Sixth place to Li Maocuo In 1:06:25
Seventh place to Liu Zhuomayingli in 1:08:44
Eighth place in Xiong Cuihong in 1:08:44