The sun is shining on edition number 23 of the Wizz Air Milano Marathon, a fest for thousands of participants. The first to the finish line in Piazza Duomo is Kenyan Leonard Langat with a time of 2h08:38 after taking the lead around the 40th kilometer.

All of the Kenya the men’s podium, in a morning with the heat that is felt especially in the final part: in second place Isaac Kipkemboi Too, author of the personal best with 2h08:45 and detached by only seven seconds, ahead of Timothy Kipchumba (2h09:11) while finishing fourth the Eritrean Aron Kifle, making his debut over the distance of 42.195 kilometers, in 2h09:39.

In contrast, it was an athlete from Ethiopia who triumphed in the women’s race won by Shure Demise who finished solo with 2h23:31 at the end of a breakaway that began just past the 30-kilometer mark. Behind her, Kenyan Joan Chepkosgei improved to 2h25:32, then two other Ethiopians: third Alemtsehay Mekuria with 2h27:23 and fourth Rediet Daniel Molla (2h29:34). Among the Italians, the best were Roberto Patuzzo (Azzurra Garbagnate Milanese), 17th in the men’s race in 2h27:01, and Daniela Valgimigli (Liferunner), 10th in the women’s race in 2h53:23.

Boom of attendance also for the UniCredit Relay Marathon, the charity relay race, in the event organized by RCS Sports & Events and RCS Active Team. “A beautiful day of sport – the words of Urbano Cairo, president and CEO of RCS Mediagroup – with lots of runners among professionals and amateurs, lots of public to accompany the Milan marathon. The start from Piazza Duomo was wonderful.”

Alexander Zverev will arrive in Rome as the defending champion and although the overtaking of Jannik Sinner at the top of the rankings is now almost impossible he already has one certainty: “If I face him, it will of course be in the final”.

“Let“s see what happens this time. It will be very interesting”, added the German, defeated by the’South Tyrolean in the Australian Open final before his three-month suspension.

“Ah, Italy: I like everything– he stressed to La Repubblica -Rome is Europe. The architecture, the history, the natural beauty. Then, the passion of the public: for tennis, and for sports in general”.

“I was the youngest tennis player in this century, after Nadal, to win the Internationals, I made it again last year. I remain focused mainly on Roland Garros, but Rome is one of my goals for the season”.

With the championship now devoid of concrete goals, all Torino has left to do is to hit the last symbolic milestone: mathematical salvation, only one point away. From there on, the goal will be to end the season in the best possible way, accumulating as many points as possible. At the Olimpico – Grande Torino, however, comes a hungry Verona, which, with only a 7-point margin over the relegation zone, needs a win to avoid nasty surprises, especially if Empoli should overcome Cagliari.

The granata are going through a good moment: they are unbeaten for five rounds and on the last day they snatched a heavy point at the Olimpico against Lazio. The Scaligeri are also living a positive moment, with two consecutive useful results: the external victory in Udine and the internal draw against Parma. All the ingredients for an intense challenge are there.

Probable lineups:

Torino probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Milinkovic; Walukiewicz, Coco, Maripan, Biraghi; Casadei, Ricci; Lazaro, Vlasic, Elmas; Adams. All. Vanoli.

Probable Verona lineup (3-5-2): Montipò; Ghilardi, Coppola, Valentini; Tchatchoua, Dawidowicz, Duda, Bernede, Bradaric; Mosquera, Sarr. All. Zanetti.