The men's marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championships was held on the streets of Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

 on 1 August.

Background

A total of 70 runners were declared for the race. Of those, 20 were identified as contenders for medal positions, with Switzerland's Viktor Röthlin

Viktor Röthlin

Viktor Röthlin is a Swiss long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Goteborg Sweden, the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka Japan, and the gold medal at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona Spain.He...

 and Spain's José Ríos

José Ríos

José Ríos Ortega is a Spanish runner. He specializes in the 10,000 metres and marathon.He won the Lake Biwa Marathon in 2006.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*3000 metres - 7:42.08 min...

 among the favourites. Also a contender was defending champion

2006 European Athletics Championships – Men's Marathon

The men's marathon at the 2006 European Athletics Championships were held at the Ullevi on August 13.2002 winner Janne Holmén finished in seventh place.-Medalists:-Schedule:-Final ranking:-External links:**...

 Italian Stefano Baldini

Stefano Baldini

Stefano Baldini is a retired Italian athlete and the 2004 Olympic and former European champion in the marathon....

, with the race billed as his return to racing after two years, since finishing 12th in the Olympic marathon. José Manuel Martínez

José Manuel Martínez

José Manuel Martínez Fernández is a Spanish long-distance runner. He is married to Spanish field hockey player Nuria Moreno....

, another Spaniard, was the leading European in the previous year's World Championships marathon

2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's Marathon

The Men's Marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics took place on August 22, 2009 in the streets of Berlin, Germany.-Medalists:-Abbreviations:*All times shown are in hours:minutes:seconds-Records:-Qualification standard:...

 where he finished eighth. Four of the Spanish runners warned before the race that heat and humidity would be the main handicaps to the competitors and force a slow and tactical race. The race would be run over four relatively flat laps of 10 km around the city of Barcelona.

Race details

The race started at 10:05 CEST

Central European Summer Time

Central European Summer Time is one of the names of the Daylight saving time offset using the UTC offset of UTC+02:00, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European countries. During the winter, Central European Time is used...

 with a field of 64 taking to the start line. It was run in hot conditions with the temperature at the start of the race 25 °C (77 °F) and the humidity rated at 74 per cent. The early pace was set by Russian Yuriy Abramov, winner of the 2010 Moscow Marathon. However, when he fell back, Röthlin was among the leading pack. The Swiss runner set a pace that the rest of the field could not compete with and he ran the final quarter of the race by himself to win by two minutes 19 seconds on Swiss National Day

Swiss National Day

The Swiss National Day is the national holiday of Switzerland, set on 1 August. It is an official national holiday since 1994, although the day had been suggested for the celebration of the foundation of the Swiss Confederacy as early as 1889.-History:...

. Second place was home runner Martínez, who said he could not compete with Röthlin's pace so instead decided to hold a steady rhythm and not get involved in any counter-attacks. Bronze medal winner was Russian Dmitriy Safronov

Dmitriy Safronov

Dmitriy Olegovich Safronov is a Russian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.He made his first appearance over the classic distance at the 2008 San Antonio Marathon in Texas, and finished third with a time of 2:15:58 for his debut run...

. Röthlin's victory was only the fourth gold for Switzerland at the European championships and their first since shot putter Werner Günthör

Werner Günthör

Werner Günthör is a former Swiss track and field athlete, who was the best shot putter in the history of Swiss track and field....

 won in the 1986 championships. Baldini's attempt to defend his title ended when he pulled out half-way through the race. Only 45 of the athletes finished the race.

The race also counted for the European Cup team result, with the teams decided on the fastest sum time of their first three athletes. Hosts Spain won the gold, ahead of Russia and Italy.

Reaction

Röthlin said after the race: "It's fantastic to do this on Swiss National Day. After everything that's happened over the past two years, this is incredible. I wouldn't have come had I not been in with a medal chance." He also made light of the warm weather, saying it was cool compared to the 2007 World Championships marathon in Osaka, Japan. Silver medalist Martínez said: "I just tried ... not [to] get involved with any counter-attacks as I've tried in the past and I'm very satisfied with my silver."

Medalists

Gold	Viktor Röthlin Viktor Röthlin Viktor Röthlin is a Swiss long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Goteborg Sweden, the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka Japan, and the gold medal at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona Spain.He... Switzerland Switzerland at the 2010 European Championships in Athletics Switzerland was represented by 22 athletes at the 2010 European Athletics Championships held in Barcelona, Spain, from 27 July to 1 August 2010.- Participants :-Results:- References :*...  (SUI)
Silver	José Manuel Martínez José Manuel Martínez José Manuel Martínez Fernández is a Spanish long-distance runner. He is married to Spanish field hockey player Nuria Moreno.... Spain Spain at the 2010 European Championships in Athletics Spain, the host country of the 2010 European Athletics Championships held in Barcelona, was represented by 88 athletes .-Track and field events:-Field events:-Combined events:-Track and road events:-Field events:-Combined events:...  (ESP)
Bronze	Dmitriy Safronov Dmitriy Safronov Dmitriy Olegovich Safronov is a Russian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.He made his first appearance over the classic distance at the 2008 San Antonio Marathon in Texas, and finished third with a time of 2:15:58 for his debut run... Russia Russia at the 2010 European Championships in Athletics Russia was represented by 105 athletes at the 2010 European Athletics Championships held in Barcelona, Spain.- Participants :-Results:- References :*...  (RUS)

Records

Standing records prior to the 2010 European Athletics Championships
World record		2:03:59	Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...	28 September 2008
European record		2:06.36	Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...	6 April 2003
Championship record		2:10:31	Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...	14 August 1994
World Leading		2:04:48	Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...	11 April 2010
European Leading		2:08:32	Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...	2 May 2010

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
1 August 2010	10:05	Final

Final

Rank	Athlete	Nationality	Time	Notes
	Viktor Röthlin Viktor Röthlin Viktor Röthlin is a Swiss long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Goteborg Sweden, the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka Japan, and the gold medal at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona Spain.He...		2:15:31
	José Manuel Martínez José Manuel Martínez José Manuel Martínez Fernández is a Spanish long-distance runner. He is married to Spanish field hockey player Nuria Moreno....		2:17:50
	Dmitriy Safronov Dmitriy Safronov Dmitriy Olegovich Safronov is a Russian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.He made his first appearance over the classic distance at the 2008 San Antonio Marathon in Texas, and finished third with a time of 2:15:58 for his debut run...		2:18:16
	Ruggero Pertile Ruggero Pertile Ruggero Pertile is an Italian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running. He was the winner of the 2004 Rome City Marathon and has represented Italy internationally at two World Championships in Athletics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was 15th overall.He was fourth in the...		2:19:33
	Pablo Villalobos Pablo Villalobos Pablo Villalobos is a Spanish long-distance runner. He finished seventh in the 5,000m final at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg and fifth in the marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. In 2003 created of campoatraves.com, a Spanish website about...		2:19:56
	Rafael Iglesias Rafael Iglesias (athlete) Rafael Iglesias is an Spanish long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.-Achievements:-References:...		2:20:14
	Migidio Bourifa Migidio Bourifa Migidio Bourifa is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon races.He formerly competed for Morocco.He finished tenth in the marathon at the 2002 European Championships...		2:20:35
	Lee Merrien Lee Merrien Lee Merrien is a British middle distance and long-distance runner.-Achievements:-References:...		2:20:42
	Aleksey Sokolov Aleksey Sokolov Aleksey Vladimirovich Sokolov is a marathon runner. He represented his country at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He won the Dublin Marathon twice and was Russia's national marathon champion in 2007...		2:20:49
10	Luís Feiteira Luís Feiteira Luís Feiteira is a Portuguese long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.-Achievements:-References:...		2:21:28
11	Ottaviano Andriani		2:21:32
12	Mariusz Giżyński		2:21:54
13	Rens Dekkers		2:22:03
14	Hugo van den Broek		2:22:06
15	Oleg Kulkov Oleg Kulkov Oleg Kulkov is a Russian marathon runner.He won the Zurich Marathon in 2008, recording a personal best time of 2:11:15. This qualified him to represent Russia at the 2008 Summer Olympics and he finished 29th overall in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Games...		2:22:24
16	Dave Webb		2:23:04
17	Koen Raymaekers		2:23:24
18	Günther Weidlinger Günther Weidlinger Günther Weidlinger is an Austrian long-distance runner who is a former 3000 metres steeplechase specialist but now competes in the marathon....		2:23:37
19	Dan Robinson Dan Robinson (athlete) Daniel Stephen Robinson is an English long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He represented Great Britain in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Games....		2:24:06
20	Alberto Chaíça Alberto Chaíça Alberto Chaíça is a Portuguese long-distance runner.His best result to date has been a finish in 4th place in the marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. He competed in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics finishing 8th...		2:24:14
21	Erik Petersson		2:24:29
22	Wodage Zwadya		2:24:39
23	Ayele Setegne		2:26:26
24	Ben Moreau		2:27:08
25	Oleksiy Rybalchenko		2:27:34
26	Patrick Stitzinger		2:28:02
27	Vasyl Matviychuk		2:28:26
28	Martin Williams		2:28:30
29	Jesper Lind Faurschou		2:28:34
30	Dastaho Svnech		2:28:36
31	Daniele Caimmi Daniele Caimmi Daniele Caimmi is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race. His personal best marathon time is 2:08:59 hours, achieved in December 2002 in Milan.He finished tenth at the 1999 World Championships,...		2:29:18
32	Anton Kosmac		2:29:56
33	Toni Bernadó		2:30:52
34	Brihun Weve		2:31:47
35	Primoz Kobe		2:31:47
36	Kristoffer Österlund		2:32:16
37	Ronald Schröer		2:33:18
38	Zohar Zemiro Zohar Zemiro Zohar Zemiro is an Israeli marathon runner. He was born in Ethiopia. His personal best time is 2:14:28. He will represent Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics.-Running career:...		2:36:58
39	Marcel Tschopp Marcel Tschopp Marcel Tschopp is a Liechtensteiner track athlete, specializing in the marathon. Tschopp was Liechtenstein's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and finished 74th in the men's marathon....		2:37:14
40	Robert Kotnik		2:40:57
41	Javier Díaz		2:42:41
42	José Moreira		2:43:56
43	Ivan Ramirez Iván Ramírez Iván Ramírez is an undefeated Mexican professional boxer in the Middleweight division.-Professional career:...		2:51:42
44	Christian Pflügl		2:53:15
45	Alan Manchado		3:12:40

} || align="left" | Tobias Sauter ||align=left| || || DNF
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Ignacio Cáceres

Ignacio Cáceres is a Spanish long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and half marathon. Hi live in Viladecans, Spain and his wife is the Spanish racewalker Eva Pérez....

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José Ríos

José Ríos Ortega is a Spanish runner. He specializes in the 10,000 metres and marathon.He won the Lake Biwa Marathon in 2006.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*3000 metres - 7:42.08 min...

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Andi Jones

Andrew Jones is an English athlete who specialises in road, cross country and mountain / fell running, competing for England & Great Britain. In 2003 he finished 4th in the WMRA World Mountain Trophy in Alaska. Closer to home he competes for Salford Harriers, where he is coached by Bob Merrell...

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Stefano Baldini

Stefano Baldini is a retired Italian athlete and the 2004 Olympic and former European champion in the marathon....

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