Second competitive cross-country running test in Spain for Nadia Battocletti after the victorious debut a week ago in Atapuerca. Late tomorrow morning, at 12.10, the Italian champion will be engaged, over the distance of 8040 metres, in the traditional Cross International de la Constitution of Alcobendas town on the outskirts of Madrid. A very nervous race course, full of slight differences in altitude and changes in direction, almost all on dirt terrain. A route that Nadia knows very well given that tomorrow’s is her fourth participation in this historic Iberian cross-country race. Second in 2022, third in 2023 and then first in 2024. Naturally the artistic daughter of her father Giuliano, her long-time coach, would like to do an encore of victories with last year’s, thanks to her continuously growing form. Above all aimed at getting to the top for Sunday 14 December in Lagoa, Portugal, date of the European cross championships where the Italian will try to defend the continental title won last year in Antalya.
Alcobendas Cross 2025: the favourites
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Among the opponents of the day the Kenyan is of relative concern Sheila Jebet and the British Megan Keith. Both beaten clearly seven days ago in Atapuerca. The duel with the 18-year-old Ethiopian appears much more challenging Yenenesh Shimket who won as a dominator last Sunday Five Mills of San Vittore Olona. Thus doing an encore with the success of twelve months ago when Battocletti was third on arrival just behind the aforementioned Jebet.
Alcobendas Cross 2025: the men’s race
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In a blue key also follow the test of Yohanes Chiappinellinational marathon record holder with 2h05.24 who withdrew from the 21k half marathon in Milan last Sunday due to a muscle problem. The big favorite in the men’s race, however, can only be the Burundian Rodrigue Kwizera who has won the last four editions of the Alcobendas cross. To be honest, his consecutive successes would have been five except that in 2021 he was then disqualified by the judges after arrival for not wearing his club’s shirt. His main opponents are the Eritrean Saymon Tesfagiorgis and above all the Iberian Thierry Ndikumwenayo former athlete from Burundi, before taking Spanish citizenship. Live streaming on the Sport Public YouTube channel.