Olympic runner-up Nageeye won the Rotterdam marathon with a Dutch record

Dutch of Somali origin Abdi Nageeye, Olympic runner-up marathonthis Sunday got the victory Rotterdam with a period of 2h04: 56, new national recordafter holding a close 500-meter sprint with the Ethiopian Leul Gebreselassie.

The 41st edition of the men’s race had a very close outcome, as Gebreselassie crossed the finish line in the same second as the winner. Third place, incl 2: 05: 12this is for the Kenyan Kiprop Reuben KipyegoOlympic bronze in Tokyo, which broke away from the front group for almost the entire final stage.

The Rotterdam marathon was held for the second time in six months, as the previous edition was delayed on October 24 due to the pandemic. On the autumn day, Bashir Abdi prevailed in the best time of the race (2h03: 36, European record) and the Belgian returned to defend his title.

Along with Olympic bronze medalist Bashir, the shortlist of favorites is Kenyan Marius Kipserem, winner in 2016 and 2019, and current Olympic runner-up, Abdi Nageeye.

In sunny weather and 7 degrees on the thermometer, the hares set a speed of two to five per kilometer in the first 15, of which fourteen athletes formed the first group, covering 20 km in just 59 minutes and the middle at 1h02.

Kipserem dropped shortly after the first group, reduced to half a dozen, exceeding km 30 at 1h28: 28 with Kipyego ahead.

The two Olympic medalists, both born in Somalia and now competing for different countries, are in the front quartet, along with Ethiopians Leul Gebreselasse and Kypiego, who are vying for victory in the last ten kilometers.

Kipyego continued the pace and Bashir Abdi was the first to give up, about to reach km 40. Kipyego himself was the second to drop, close to 41. The victory was disputed between two athletes from the Nationale Nederlanden Running Team (which included to the world record holder, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge), in a lengthy sprint in which Nageeye prevailed.