Around 4,500 skaters took part on Saturday (archive photo) Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
The Belgian Jason Suttels narrowly prevented his compatriot Bart Swings from defending his title at the skater marathon in Berlin.
On Saturday, the 22-year-old won the 42.192 kilometers in an unofficial 57:01 minutes ahead of the simultaneous Olympic speed skating champion from Beijing 2022. The women also had a simultaneous run-in with athletes from one nation. The Colombian Gabriela Rueda won in an unofficial time of 1:08.59 hours ahead of Karoll Eliana Garcia Arias.
The two Belgians ran through Berlin in their own class. The third-placed Beddiaf Nolan from France only crossed the finish line after 59:41 minutes, just ahead of the German Felix Rijhnen in fourth (59:42). Last year’s winner Swings had one consolation despite missing out on victory: the 32-year-old still holds the course record of 56:45, which he set in 2022.
The two Colombians also dominated the women’s competition. Last year’s winner Marie Dupuy from France only crossed the finish line in third place after 1:11.72 hours. Michelle Uhrig was the best German and finished 18th in 1:12.00 hours. Maira Yaqueline Arias still holds the course record. The Argentine won in 2017 in 1:06.35 hours.
According to the police, the competition was spared from the disruptions announced by the climate protection group Last Generation.