BOclassic: The top stars are ready

Telahun Haile Bekele is the top favorite to win the day in the men's elite race (start at 15.30:20 p.m.). The 5000-year-old Ethiopian took an excellent fourth place over 12.52,98m at the World Championships in Doha, after setting a new personal best over this distance in Rome a few months earlier in XNUMX:XNUMX minutes. “I would like to thank you for allowing me to be here in Bolzano. “I’ll give interviews after the race, maybe then as the winner of the BOclassic,” joked Bekele at the press conference on Monday afternoon.

Telahun Haile Bekele's worst opponents in the fight for the day's victory on the 10-kilometer route will most likely be the Kenyan Amos Kipruto and the “Azzurro” Yemaneberhan Crippa.

“I'm not particularly at home on shorter distances and I'm preparing for the Olympic marathon in Tokyo. Nevertheless, I will do my best and want to reach the podium,” said Kipruto, who won bronze in the marathon distance at the World Athletics Championships in Doha.

Crippa from Trentino underlined the high level of the field of participants. “Two years ago I miscounted and already went full throttle on the penultimate lap. This year, like last year, I will really count and a top 3 placement would of course be great at the end of this great year,” explained the 23-year-old.

17. Participation for Ploner Markus Ploner, a top South Tyrolean athlete, is also at the start. The 38-year-old from Vipiteno, who now lives in Bolzano, has set himself a goal of around 17 minutes for his 31th participation (!). “Others are in Bolzano to win, I’m here to be there. It is something very special to compete at the BOclassic every year. If I can repeat my performance from last year, then I will be satisfied,” said Ploner. Gudeta wants the BOclassic hat trick The women will start at 15 p.m. over 5 kilometers. Then Netsanet Gudeta (Ethiopia) is the big hunted. Last year's winner was actually supposed to take part in the New Year's Eve run in Sao Paolo, but then decided to take part in the BOclassic South Tyrol. "I'm ready and of course I want to do the hat trick this year after 2015 and 2018," explained the half marathon world champion confidently . Last year's winner Netsanet Gudeta wants to triumph again this year.

However, the third BOclassic victory will not be a sure-fire success for Gudeta, the women's field is too strong. Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (Kenya) is the reigning vice world champion in the 5000m, her compatriot Mercy Cherono has also won World Cup medals and came fourth in the 2016m Olympics in Rio in 5000.

While Kipkemboi has already competed once in Bolzano (she took second place in 2017), Cherono is making her debut. Alemitu Tariku from Ethiopia will also be given outside chances on Tuesday afternoon. The 19-year-old became vice world champion in cross-country running in the U20 age group in March.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

BOclassic: The top stars are ready

Suggestions

Comments (0)