8:15 AM: The start of the third edition of the Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes Marathon has just been given. The elite athletes and Kenyans are now launching on the south road, followed by approximately 600 qualifiers for the French Championships of the distance and the sub-3-hour marathoners, led by the young hope of French mountain biking Guillaume VINIT, wearing bib number 2063, all ready for action.
The first kilometers of the event proceed without surprise, with the echelon of 15 Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes leading and pacemaker Luka KANDA setting the pace. In the middle of the pack are the French Rachid TSEGAYE and El Hassan LAHSSINI. This is a race of attrition happening before our eyes, as mile-by-mile, the group diminishes to 13 elite athletes, and then to just 9 at the head of the pack.
It is only at kilometer 30 that the finish ranking becomes apparent, with Mark TANUI, Hailu SHUME, and Botoru TSEGAYE in front. The Ethiopian, Botoru TSEGAYE, will eventually break away from his two competitors about 4 kilometers before the finish.
In the final standings, the Ethiopian Botoru TSEGAYE arrives in first place with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 27 seconds (just 10 seconds more than last year – the current record of the race held by Ethiopian Roba Adelo since last year), followed by Kenyan Mark TANUI in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 2 seconds, and Ethiopian Hailu SHUME in 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 24 seconds. The first Frenchman, Rachid GHANMOUNI, finishes in 4th place overall with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 59 seconds. Guillaume VINIT finishes as he intended, under the 3-hour mark in 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 55 seconds. The first local, Frédéric DESPLANQUES, finishes in 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 2 seconds. David LISNARD smiles brightly at the finish with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Among the women, the Kenyan and Ethiopian women lead the race far ahead of the French Adeline ROCHE. In the final rankings, the Ethiopian Radiya ROBA finishes in first place with a time of 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 37 seconds, followed closely by Kenyan Emily ROTICH in 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 8 seconds. The third woman overall is the first Frenchwoman, Adeline ROCHE, who finishes in 2 hours, 38 minutes, and 31 seconds. The first local woman is Alexandra LOUISON, finishing in 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 21 seconds.
The date is already set for next year, as the event is already scheduled in the calendar for November 13, 2011.
Ranking of the top 5 male and female competitors:
MEN:
- Botoru TSEGAYE (ETH) : 2h’10’27’’
- Mark TANUI (KEN) : 2h’11’02’’
- Hailu SHUME (ETH) : 2h’12’24’’
- Rachid GHANMOUNI (FR) : 2h’12’59’’
- Stephen KOECH (ETH): 2h’13’56’’
WOMEN:
- Radiya ROBA (ETH) : 2h30’37’’
- Emily ROTICH (KEN) : 2h33’08’’
- Adeline ROCHE (FR) : 2h38’31’’
- Aline CAMBOULIVES (FR) : 2h42’53’’
- Alexandra LOUISON (FR) : 2h47’21’’
Photo credits: FOCALIVE
