Fantastic Sunday for Italy at the European Road Running Championships. Blue gold also in the marathon in Leuven, Belgium, with the victory of Iliass Aouani after a magnificent sprint. It is the big day of the Milanese engineer, author of a star race, always in the leading positions before the decisive action to close in 2h09:05 beating three Israelis: Gashau Ayale (2h09:08), overcome in the final duel, then the vice world champion Maru Teferi, bronze in 2h09:17, and Haimro Alame, fourth with 2h09:27.

The Italian team’s second blue marathon runner was the first to win the marathon.

Second Italian ever with 2h06:06 last December in Valencia and already the national record holder (2h07:16 in 2023 in Barcelona), the 29-year-old coached in Ferrara by Massimo Magnani seizes the most important result of his career. In the men’s marathon for Italy it is the sixth European gold in history, following those of Gelindo Bordin (1986 and 1990), Stefano Baldini (1998 and 2006) and Daniele Meucci (2014). In the women’s, Giovanna Epis was fifth in 2h29:14. Two Spaniards in the top two places with Fatima Ouhaddou (2h27:14) ahead of Majida Maayouf (2h27:41), bronze to Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (2h28:01) in a sprint over compatriot Maor Tiyouri (2h28:01). For the first time, the title is awarded in a dedicated event that becomes packed with blue medals: 6 in total with three golds (also Nadia Battocletti and the women’s team in the 10 km), one silver and two bronzes (in Saturday’s half marathon).

The race was run in a straight line, from Brussels to Leuven, on an undulating and treacherous course with light rain. Among the men just before the 20th km stretches Israeli Bukayawe Malede (1h03:52 at the half) who is caught and overtaken about ten kilometers ahead. Italy’s Iliass Aouani, wearing a black bandana to cover his head, travels in the group that also includes Turkey’s Ilham Tanui Ozbilen, Israelis Gashau Ayale, Haimro Alame and Yitayew Abuhay, in a challenge that becomes tactical, and so Malede falls back on the leading pack. After 30 km (1h30:55) in the lead are Aouani, Ozbilen and four athletes in Israeli jerseys: vice world champion Maru Teferi, Alame, Ayale and Malede, who then loses ground again. Five remain in front: Alame’s forcing is answered by Aouani, then Teferi takes the lead and the Azzurri seems to control with confidence (1h46:51 at 35 km). Four kilometers to go, the race turns into a challenge of Aouani against the three Israelis Teferi, Ayale and Alame: 2h02:26 at 40th km with Ozbilen at 22 seconds. In the final Teferi gets into trouble, when the sprint starts Alame also breaks away and then Aouani triumphs.

At 3 p.m. Italian time at Molineaux Stadium the 32nd Premer League match between Wolverhampton and Tottenham will be played.

The Wolves are fourth last but are coming off three consecutive wins with Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich, Spurs are two places ahead and bounced back against Southampton after two defeats in a row.

The likely lineups

WOLVERHAMPTON (3-4-3): José Sá; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti; Nelson Semedo, André, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri; Munetsi, Larsen, Bellegarde. All: Vitor Pereira.

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TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Spence; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son Heung-min. All: Postecoglou.

During the final press conference of the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, tournament director David Massey drew an enthusiastic balance: “We are on the verge of breaking our record once more. We will surpass the historic milestone of 150,000 spectators,” he announced. A turnout that testifies to the growing strength of the tournament, which remains one of the circuit’s most beloved events.

Massey stressed the importance of the expansion of the site, with the introduction of the new Village des joueurs: “We have enlarged the site by 35 percent, creating what I believe is the best players’ village in the world for tennis.” A change welcomed by the athletes, who now travel with real teams: “The players come with coaches, physical trainers, physiotherapists… it’s a bit like a Formula 1 driver, with a whole team in tow.”

Among the most notable innovations is the introduction of electronic refereeing. “We were the first Masters 1000 on clay to implement the ELC Live system, with the collaboration of Hawk-Eye,” explained Massey, emphasizing the historic significance of the move. “We have always valued line judges, but at the ATP’s request we have embraced this transition, also integrating artificial intelligence.”

The director did not hide his excitement about a possible triumph for the home favorite: “Romain had match points last year…if he wins today, he would be the first player from Monaco to triumph here. It would be something historic.”

On future prospects, Massey confirmed plans for expansion, but with longer timelines: “We have ideas to develop the site further, but it will take two or three years before they are visible.” The goal is also to improve the audience experience: “We are now satisfied with the player spaces, so the focus will be on welcoming fans.”

On the possible introduction of a women’s tournament, he clarified, “There are no concrete plans at the moment, but we are open to the idea. If it is ever done, it will be a combined event.” However, he strongly defended the current format: “Our nine-day model works. We have a 56-player scoreboard and competitive matches from the first round.”

Finally, to those who asked about possible changes in the ATP calendar, Massey wryly replied, “Better to turn the question over to the ATP,” while acknowledging that “longer tournaments, like Indian Wells and Miami, have offered more tennis to more spectators.”

With a smile, he concluded, “If we are able to repeat an edition like this again next year, it will already be an extraordinary achievement for us and the whole team.”

Carlo Galati