Russische winnaars EK 24 uur: Vladimir Byckov 254 en Irina Koval 229 km

Geert Stynen (B) verrassend 2e met 248 km (een nieuw PR). De Nederlanders staakten voortijdig de strijd.

De voorlopige uitslag is te vinden op
http://www.iau.org.tw/upload/news/1159092007.xls
Geert Stynen (B) verrassend 2e met 248 km (een nieuw PR). De Nederlanders staakten voortijdig de strijd.

Ook op de IAU site is de volgende tekst (van Hilary Walker) te lezen:

IAU European 24hr Championships – the last hours.

After 18 hours Bychkov had reached 198 km with Stynen (BEL) on 193 km having overtaken Mammoli (ITA) on 192 km. Finill was running steadily in 4th with 180 km and his compatriot Rogers (GBR) had moved into 5th place. In the ladies race Koval had covered 179 km with Dimitriadu (CZE) on 174km and Berces (HUN) on 167km

By 20 hours the leaders remained in the same order but the following runners had changed positions. Bychkov had reach 217 km, with Stynen on 211 km and Mammoli on 210 km. Rogers (GBR) had moved into fourth place with 197 km with Ondrus (CZE) in fifth also on 197km. For the ladies, Koval had reached 196km and Dimitriadu (CZE) 191 km. Berces (HUN) hadcovered 180km.

At 22 hr Bychkov had covered 236km with Stynen on 228 and Mammoli under 1 km behind. Rogers was in fourth with 215 km and Ondrus had covered 213 km together with Finill. Koval was on 212 km andDimitriadu on 208 km with Berces on 194 km.

During the last two hours the first and second ladies showed tru camaraderie by running together for a number of laps and at 23 hrs Kovals was on 200km with Dimitriadu on 216km. Berces was third with 203 km. Munoz (ITA) and Walker (GBR) were lying fourth and fifth respectively. The men’s order remained the same with Bychkov on 245 k, Stynen and Mammoli both on 238. km. The tension was mounting for the Italian audience whether Mammoli could swop places with Stynen. Rogers was liying fourth with 225km and Andersen (DEN) had been steadily moving up places during the last few hours to be lying 5th.

The final minutes were thrilling – Bychkov finished first with over 254 km but the positions between Mammoli and Stynen changed up to the final minute with Stynen getting the silver medal on the final gun. Jim Rogers finished strongly in fourth with 235km and Jan Andersen in fifth. Koval made it a double Russian victory with just under 230km and Dimitriadu coming in second with 225 km and Berces in third with 211 km.