The athlete from Girona Nan Oliveras, a triathlon figure, surprised the middle distance specialists this Sunday in the Behobia-San Sebastián and won the solo victory, close to the test record, while in the female category Cristina Silva He had no rival and won with great authority. The men’s event began with a lively rhythm and a group of a dozen runners who accelerated to become the spearhead of this rocky, group in which the favorite Jesús Olmos was already well established, well protected among the rest of his companions.
Olmos, second in last year’s edition and known as the “Fruiter Runner”, was the 10-kilometer national champion and now, in his transition to marathon events, he defends himself wonderfully in this 20-kilometer half distance, although this Sunday he did not he looked very comfortable. Chakib Lachgar, another of the great candidates and champion of the event in 2019, also suffered a lot from the beginning to be left off the hook at the beginning, but since he is in a great moment, competing on Saturday and Sunday in recent weeks, he managed to reintegrate with the escaped, five athletes, at the top of Gaitxurizketa. That’s where the alarms went off because the Moroccan is a specialist who shouldn’t be too close if the goal is to win a race.
Nan Oliveras was one of those who did not feel comfortable with the presence of Lachgar and launched his attack to break the race with eight kilometers to go, taking with him the also Catalan Artur Bussi. Both took a few meters over a group of four riders who were trying to hook up and headed into the final stretch of the test with everything in their favor to play for victory between them. The last slope of the route was missing, a Miracruz hill that is usually decisive to establish the final sieve and that Bussy and Oliveras climbed alone until the last meters, in which the triathlete decided to go all out to unhook Bussy and face the descent and the flat section prior to the solo finish line. Nan Olvieras would fly without company until the final banner to achieve a well-deserved victory ahead of the favorite Jesús Olmos who recovered in the final stretch and finished second. The Catalan also achieved a great mark (1.01:20 hours) that opens the door to future editions of this massive popular race that brought together nearly 30,000 participants in all categories.
The women’s event was less competitive because Cristina Silva arrived in a moment of outstanding form that she confirmed almost from the time she left the Irundarra neighborhood of Behobia. He escaped alone and none of his rivals had any option to challenge his victory. Silva practically did the 20 kilometers on his own, without looking back and without references to how his opponents were doing, the most important Mireia Wagner, who was unable at any time to engage in a direct duel with the Barcelona woman although she signed a great second place ahead from Teruel Elena Silvestre, who would complete the podium.