IAAF preview (by Paul Warburton) - only in English

Cesar Augusto Rodriguez is the sole survivor from the top 10 at the IAAF World Junior Championships Oregon 2014. As a result, an elevation to the U20 men’s 10km podium at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016 on Saturday will get short odds.

Even though he is still just 18, Rodriguez bettered his personal mark to 41:01.71 in Lima last year and endorsed the rise of another newcomer to the sport.

Peru has entered race walkers for all five races over the weekend in the Italian capital – a far cry from recent times when Colombia and Brazil stood alone waving the South American flag at major championships.

However, the current top eight on the 2016 U20 men’s world list all come from just one country: China.

The country of a billion plus has brought just two to Rome. But as it is race walkers one and two on the list, it would be hard to argue against world youth silver medallist Zhang Jun, who clocked 40:10 in March, and Jin Xiangqian, who recorded 40:43 a month later in Taicang.

Spain’s Manuel Bermudez could challenge Rodriguez and the Chinese duo, having notched 41:23.3 last month. Australia’s Tyler Jones and Adam Garganis, who have clocked 43:39.86 and 43:13.24 on the track in Sydney and Perth respectively, are both in the current top 10 on the 2016 U20 world list.

Japan has pedigree at senior level, and their juniors are also making inroads on the world scene.

Masaya Ishikawa stopped the clock at 41:01 in Kobe in February and, nine seconds after, Masatora Kawano claimed second. Both are ready and able to repeat the feat in Rome.

Great Britain has never had a junior race walker finish inside the top eight at these championships, but Callum Wilkinson could be the athlete to end that drought. The 19-year-old is undefeated outdoors this year, winning in Podebrady and Dudince after setting a national U20 record of 41:31 in March.

Iraq has a single race walker in the U20 race. Quite what it took Mustafa Razzak Alwan to make the starting line has yet to be discovered. But as the national senior 20km record for a country in turmoil is a lowly club standard 1:54:38, as long as Alwan gets round, he will have notched one more victory for athletics and race walking in particular.

20 km men

All roads not only lead to Rome for 20km race walkers at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016; there is one thoroughfare about to see an epic battle against the backdrop of the ancient Colosseum on the lip of the course.

The good news for spectators is that the race-walking gladiators are pretty evenly matched.

Individually, there are at least six or more who could break the tape. On a team level, Japan, China and Canada have terrific units in great form and at least one of those countries should make it on to the podium.

Spain and defending champions Ukraine plot to upset the party, however.

Two-time world silver medallist Wang Zhen has the fastest PB of all the entrants, and the Asian Games champion has more than enough pedigree to repeat his 2012 World Cup win in Saransk – especially after a 1:19:12 victory in China’s Olympic trial race.

Olympic champion Chen Ding and 2014 World Cup silver medallist Cai Zelin will also be in Rome, but the top three race walkers on the 2016 world list all come from Japan and two of those will be racing in the Italian capital.

Even without injured world record-holder Yusuke Suzuki, the Japanese trio of Eiki Takahashi, Isamu Fujisawa and Takumi Saito should skate home, assuming the usual caveat of satisfying watching judges.

Takahashi clocked a world-leading 1:18:26 to win the national title in February with Fujisawa placing second in 1:18:45. Saito, meanwhile, clocked a PB of 1:19:44 to finish third in a competitive race in Nomi in March.

Canada, with world bronze medallist Ben Thorne, national record-holder Inaki Gomez and Pan-American champion Evan Dunfee, also look strong as a unit and could even challenge for individual honours.

That same trio finished fourth in the team standings in 2014, just one point away from a place on the podium, and will be using the memories of that experience as motivation in Rome.

World champion Miguel Angel Lopez does what a winner does: peaks for top races and holds his nerve to the tape.

Alongside him on the Spanish team should be European under-23 silver medallist Alvaro Martin, winner of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge meeting in Rio Maior last month.

Ukraine were surprise team winners in Taicang two years ago, and in Ruslan Dmytrenko they also had the individual winner. His 1:21:31 at Ivano-Frankivsk in March was nothing special in world terms, but it was still a win, and the Ukrainians have got the taste for medals.

Individually, it’s not always the fastest on paper who wins this race. Dmytrenko was one of a number of promising race walkers in 2014 when the hosts were the favourites, but he still got home first with a last-lap sprint.

Andres Choco was third in Rio Maior, but he also broke the South American 50km record in Ciudad Juarez in early March to suggest he has not only strength in spades, but is clearly Ecuador’s natural successor to the great Jefferson Perez.

Australia’s Dane Bird-Smith has made steady but sure progress among the elite. The 23-year-old’s 1:20:04 victory to start the 2016 Race Walking Challenge in Adelaide in February was a personal best by one second and, more importantly, was achieved in searing heat.

Weather forecasts suggest the Italian capital could boast north of 25C by the time of Saturday’s afternoon start that should play in favour of those used to warm conditions.

Other outsiders for individual glory will include an African race walker. So far, the continent with distance pedigree in every foothill has failed to get to grips with race walking – strange, considering the endurance nature of the sport.

But South Africa’s Lebogang Shange’s 1:20:06 national record to finish behind Bird-Smith in Adelaide underlined another gradual rise through the ranks.

Shange’s time was a 1:37 improvement on the PB he set at least year’s World Championships and more than four minutes better than his best time in 2014. A podium place for Shange would not be the biggest surprise of the weekend.

Of the rest, current form might prove a guide. Perseus Karlstrom is a surprising fourth on this year’s world list. The Swede’s 1:19:11 win in Podebrady was his second big PB of the year, following his 1:21:03 clocking in Adelaide in February.

Although he has been on the race walking scene for quite a while, Christopher Linke is another dark horse. The German finished second behind Karlstrom in the Czech Republic and chopped more than a minute from his best, clocking 1:19:19.

Britain’s Tom Bosworth broke his country’s 28-year-old national record when he stopped the clock at 1:20:41 to win at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge meeting in Dudince in March.

The 26-year-old wasn’t even born when Ian McCombie set the previous mark at the 1988 Olympics. The previous year at the World Championships, McCombie secured an honourable ninth in Rome. Perhaps Bosworth could produce a performance to make the Eternal City memorable for British supporters.

50 km

In the absence of world record-holder Yohann Diniz, China looks to have assembled the strongest team for the 50km at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016.

Six years have passed since their sole 50km team victory at these championships, while their only individual triumph at this event dates back to 1995. But with five men who have this year gone faster than 3:49 – no other man on the entry list has bettered 3:51 – China has serious challengers for both individual and team honours.

The team is led by 37-year-old Han Yucheng, who came out of retirement last year. The 2003 Asian Champion, who took 20km bronze at the 2006 World Race Walking Cup, finished second in China’s Olympic trial race in March in 3:42:43, one of the fastest times of his career and just six minutes shy of the 3:36:20 PB he set back in 2005.

The team also includes three-time World Championships representative Xu Faguang and Zhang Lin, who finished sixth at last year’s World Championships.

Olympic champion Jared Tallent will want to regain the title he won at the 2012 edition of these championships. The 31-year-old Australian has had a quiet 2016 so far, but the world silver medallist shows no signs of slowing down and warmed up for Rome by posting a nippy 1:21:50 over 20km in Taicang last month.

But it’s at 50km where he excels; of all the races he has completed over the longer distance, Tallent has only once finished outside of the top three.

When it comes to seniority, though, no one can match Jesus Angel Garcia.

It is one thing to be competing at age of 46, but the 1993 world champion will be spearheading Spain’s charge. Even though pressed at the IAAF press conference that heralded the 2014 race, the man from Madrid gave nothing away when it came to revealing secrets of longevity.

This is his 12th straight appearance at these championships, and his list of achievements needs at least two scrolls of a web page heralding his honours.

He won this race as far back as 1997 in an unseasonal snowstorm, and continues to defy the odds. He was ninth at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 in 3:46:43, and if Garcia were vaguely interested in senior records, his at M40 and M45 should stand for eternity over the distance.

Backed up by Mikel Odriozola – himself just shy of a 43rd birthday, but sporting a 3:54:21 mark in February – and four other solid Spaniards, they too should be somewhere towards the top of the leader board.

Italy and India also have a good set of race walkers to test the rest around the course that shades the ancient Colosseum.

There’s nothing like a bit of home support when things get tough after three hours of race walking in heat. It’s then that the mind has to take over a weary body, even among the best. A bit of backing goes a long way.

Italy’s long-sock-wearing Marco de Luca set a 3:45:25 personal best two years ago. Although the 34-year-old has gained medals at the European Cup, his solid top-10 placings at the major championships over the past 10 years offer the experience needed to deal with the gruelling distance.

Backed up by three teammates with sub-3:50 PBs at the distance – including 2008 Olympic champion Alex Schwazer – the trick for De Luca and the Italian team is to survive and thrive. Italy has always delivered at major championships, and this one is in their own back yard.

Few would have thought of India as a race-walking force just a couple of years ago. That said, with a nation of more than a billion people, there has to be a decent quorum somewhere for just about every sport you can name.

Gurka soldier Basanta Bahadur has only a modest 3:56:48 PB, but it was set at the 2012 Olympics and he backed that up with a 1:21:29 over 20km two years ago in Nomi.

Chandan Singh has already made the Olympic qualifying mark at 20km, and Jitender Singh was third in the Indian Championships in February.

After India finished eighth in the men’s 20km and seventh at 50km two years ago, an elevation to one of the podium steps in the team competition has strong possibilities.

If it’s not to be Italy or India, then Poland, Spain or Ukraine is good for the team trophy.

The latter has been upwardly mobile since they took 50km bronze in 2012, and then silver two years later.

Ivan Banzeruk was eighth in Taicang, Serhiy Budza was one place further back and Andriy Hrechkovskyi came home 17th, and they’re all set to compete again in Rome.

Poland boasts a talented trio of Rafal Sikora, Grzegorz Sudol and Damian Blocki. He may be 37, but Sudol has a 3:41:20 personal best from three years ago that suggests if the trio survive intact, they will challenge the leaders.

For the first time ever at a global championship, women will compete alongside men in the 50km race walk. USA’s Erin Talcott is the sole woman entered for this year’s race. With a best of 4:33:22 for the distance, she is faster than three of her four male teammates in the 50km.

Le gare/The races

(Italian version - from Fidal website)

20 km uomini

I Campionati del Mondo di marcia a squadre hanno emesso il primo verdetto delle gare senior. 

Sulla 20km maschile di Roma 2016 è il favorito cinese Zhen Wang a mettere tutti in fila portando a termine la sua prova in 1h19:22. Alle spalle del bronzo olimpico e argento mondiale in carica il connazionale Zelin Cai (1h19:34) dopo una bella lotta negli ultimi chilometri con lo spagnolo Alvaro Martin, terzo in 1h19:36. Con due atleti sul podio la classifica a squadre premia ovviamente la Cina davanti a Canada ed Ecuador. Dodicesima l'Italia: il primo degli azzurri al traguardo è il 21enne pugliese Francesco Fortunato, 48esimo in 1h24:19. Poi è la volta del coetaneo e corregionale Vito Minei (52esimo in 1h24:42) seguito dal cinquantista marchigiano Michele Antonelli (60esimo in 1h25:11) e dal veneto Leonardo Dei Tos (67esimo in 1h26:38). Niente da fare per Giorgio Rubino: il riaffacciarsi di un fastidio al bicipite femorale costringe il trentenne romano al ritiro prima del decimo chilometro.

"Onestamente mi aspettavo un tempo migliore - il commento di Fortunato a fine gara -.Nella prima parte mi sono lasciato trascinare dal gruppo (41:39 al giro di boa, ndr), poi nel finale ho un po' faticato, ma devo dire grazie a chi è venuto a fare il tifo per me. Dalla mia città, Andria, sono arrivati una trentina di amici che si sono fatti sentire lungo il percorso".

50 km

5KM - Partenza sotto l'Arco di Costantino con tanto pubblico a colorare una cornice che di per sé è già unica. Ad assistere allo start c'è anche il presidente del CONI Giovanni Malagò. Il cielo è leggermente coperto, ma su via di San Gregorio il colpo d'occhio con il Colosseo alle spalle è una cartolina meravigliosa della Città Eterna. E per cominciare al passaggio del quinto chilometro si presentano presto quattro maglie azzurre nelle prime posizioni: sono quelle di Marco De Luca (45:07), Matteo Giupponi (45:09), Federico Tontodonati (45:10) e Alex Schwazer (45:09), al rientro in Nazionale dopo il periodo di squalifica per doping concluso lo scorso 29 aprile. Insieme a loro viaggiano anche il cinese Yucheng Han (45:09) e l'australiano Jared Tallent (45:09). Avvio più prudente, invece, per Teodorico Caporaso, trentunesimo in 23:22. Quella di oggi, però, è una gara che è già entrata nella storia dell'atletica perché sulla linea di partenza, in mezzo a 66 uomini, c'è anche Erin Talcott. La 37enne statunitense è la prima donna a prendere parte ad una 50km di marcia in una rassegna internazionale. 

10KM - De Luca gioca in casa e il 35enne romano delle Fiamme Gialle non vuole deludere i tanti tifosi che sono venuti a sostenerlo. Ad aspettarlo lungo il percorso ci sono anche le sue due bambine Sofia e Noemi con delle speciali t-shirt "Forza papino!". E' lui il leader del gruppo al passaggio del decimo chilometro: 45:07 davanti a Giupponi (45:09), Schwazer (45:09), Han (45:09), Tallent (45:09) e Tontodonati (45:10). Ventiquattresimo Caporaso (46:29), mentre la Talcott marcia in sessantaduesima posizione (55:15).     

15KM - E' arrivato il sole a scaldare la mattinata, ma gli atleti continuano la loro lunga fatica all'ombra degli alberi lungo il viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Ora sono solo in cinque nel gruppetto dei battistrada con tre azzurri: in testa c'è Schwazer (1h07:12) con al seguito Giupponi (1h07:13), Tallent (1h07:13), Han (1h07:13) e De Luca (1h07:15). Tontodonati è mezzo minuto più indietro (1h07:42 in sesta posizione), venticinquesimo Caporaso (1h09:37). Talcott 1h22:54.     

20KM - L'Italia è attualmente al comando della classifica provvisoria per team davanti a Polonia e Cina. A pilotare le operazioni c'è sempre Schwazer che oggi indossa un paio di grossi occhiali neri affiancato dal lombardo Giupponi. I due azzurri varcano insieme la soglia del ventesimo chilometro in 1h28:53. Sui loro passi, a distanza ravvicinata (1h28:55), restano l'argento mondiale Tallent e il cinese Han. De Luca arretra, invece, al quinto posto (1h29:20) davanti al torinese Tontodonati (1h29:59). Guadagna qualche posizione Caporaso, diciannovesimo in 1h32:26. Prosegue anche l'avventura della Talcott: la statunitense è sempre sessantunesima (1h50:39).           

25KM - Schwazer alza il ritmo e tenta l'allungo sul resto della concorrenza. Il 31enne altoatesino giunge al giro di boa in 1h50:58. Era dal 24 marzo del 2012 (3h40:58 a Dudince) che non si cimentava sulla distanza che l'aveva visto oro olimpico a Pechino 2008. L'Italia Team, intanto, è sempre in testa alla classifica parziale con alle spalle Ucraina e Cina.

Oltre a Schwazer sono altri tre gli italiani nelle prime sei posizioni: terzo Giupponi (1h51:05) in mezzo a Tallent (1h51:04) e Han (1h51:05) nel trio dei diretti inseguitori. Quinto De Luca (1h51:39) e sesto Tontodonati (1h52:16), poi Caporaso diciottesimo (1h55:01).

30KM - 28 secondi. Tanto è adesso il vantaggio accumulato da Schwazer quando scocca l'ora del trentesimo chilometro dove il cinquantista transita in 2h12:29. Han, Giupponi e Tallent continuano a comporre il terzetto del "chasing group" (2h12:57). Sempre quinto De Luca con 1:34 di ritardo (2h14:03) sui battistrada. Tontodonati perde terreno e scende al nono posto (2h15:04), mentre è in piena rimonta il campano Caporaso salito fino alla tredicesima posizione (2h17:39).

35KM - Il 35esimo è il punto in cui si apre la fase più cruciale della 50 chilometri. Schwazer varca questa soglia (2h33:57) dopo aver guadagnato altri 20 secondi sui suoi avversari staccati di 48 secondi. L'azzurro prosegue imperterrito la sua marcia. Dietro gli resistono solo Tallent e Han (2h34:45) che nel frattempo si sono sganciati da Giupponi, quarto in 2h35:06. Anche De Luca ha dovuto cedere una posizione, sesto (2h36:31) alle spalle dell'ucraino Igor Glavan (2h36:26). Ottavo Tontodonati (2h38:16) con Caporaso che fa il suo ingresso nella "top10" provvisoria (2h40:17). Attenzione: tutti e cinque gli azzurri in gara sono tra i primi dieci consolidando la leadership a squadre su Ecuador e Ucraina. 

40KM - A dieci chilometri dal traguardo Schwazer - che ormai da un anno si allena sotto la guida tecnica di Sandro Donati in collaborazione con Mario De Benedictis - sembra ormai inarrestabile. Adesso l'altoatesino ha dalla sua un minuto e mezzo esatto di vantaggio sull'australiano Tallent: 2h55:26 vs 2h56:56. Il ritiro al 38esimo chilometro del cinese Han promuove, invece, al terzo posto Giupponi (2h57:58). Compattissimo il resto della squadra azzurra che difende tenacemente l'attuale leadership in classifica con De Luca (sesto, 2h58:57), Tontodonati (settimo, 3h02:22) e Caporaso (nono, 3h02:46).

45KM - Schwazer è lanciatissimo verso gli ultimi cinque chilometri che conducono alla linea d'arrivo allo stadio delle Terme di Caracalla. L'atleta ora tesserato per il Brixen-Bressanone passa in 3h17:14 al 45esimo chilometro. Tallent è sempre secondo in ritardo di 2:17 (3h19:31). Attenzione a De Luca rientrato al terzo posto (3h21:51) davanti all'ucraino Glavan (3h21:57) e Giupponi (3h22:47). E anche Caporaso sale: ora è sesto (3h25:31).

50KM (ARRIVO) - Alex Schwazer fa il suo ingresso sull'anello rosso dello stadio. Poco prima si è tolto i grossi occhiali scuri che gli coprivano lo sguardo. Alza un braccio verso il cielo: la vittoria della 50km ai Campionati del Mondo di marcia a squadre è sua. 3h39:00 il crono finale (seconda migliore prestazione mondiale 2016) dell'olimpionico di Pechino 2008 che precede l'australiano Tallent (3h42:36) e l'ucraino Glavan (3h44:02). Italia campione del mondo a squadre davanti a Ucraina e Spagna. Quattro azzurri tra i primi 10: quarto è Marco De Luca con il primato personale 3h44:47, quinto un sorprendente Teodorico Caporaso che si migliora fino a 3h48:29 al termine di una gara tutta in rimonta. Ottavo Matteo Giupponi che ha stretto i denti nel finale (3h52:27) e tredicesimo Federico Tontodonati (3h55:17). Dopo De Luca già preselezionato da tempo, oggi sia Schwazer che Caporaso ottengono una prestazione che soddisfa icriteri di partecipazione indicati dal settore tecnico federale per i Giochi Olimpici di Rio 2016. Merita attenzione anche l'ultima persona ad attraversare il traguardo di Roma 2016. Quarantesima in 4h51:08 è, infatti, la statunitense Erin Talcott, prima donna nella storia dell'atletica a competere in una 50km di marcia in una rassegna internazionale.

Ukraine's Igor Glavan is set to be promoted to the silver medal position from the race in Rome and Schwarzer's team-mate, Marco De Luca, to the bronze.  

10 km U20 men

The future is so bright for Zhang Jun that he was the only race walker in the first three at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016 who needed sunglasses.

However, the Chinese athlete was cast into bright sunlight as he strode home to underline his status as the pre-race favourite.

Behind him, there was a terrific scramble to mount the podium won by Manuel Bermudez from Spain to set a four-second personal best, and Mexico’s Noel Chama came third after a charge in the latter stages to pip Callum Wilkinson from Great Britain.

There was no hanging about from Wilkinson as he shot away at the start.

The fair-haired white-vested native from Newmarket is fresh from a 41:31 personal best recorded in March, and looked a thoroughbred as he rattled through the first four kilometres.

Zhang has gone even faster, and it was mere seconds before he made up the ground to Wilkinson. At 4km, he made his own push to be home alone.

The Brit was joined by Cesar Rodriguez from Peru, the only top-10 survivor from the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, China’s Jin Xiangqian, Rodriguez’s teammate Lenyn Mamani, Spain’s Bermudez and Japan’s Masatora Kawano to enhance the eclectic mix.

Halfway was reached by Zhang in a speedy 20:22, with the others a mere two seconds back.

By 6km there was clear daylight between the chasers and the leading pack now down to Chama, Zhang, Wilkinson, and Bermudez.

Behind the quartet, the Peruvian pair were desperately trying to stay in touch, desperate being the operative word as the leaders hit 32:58 for 8km.

Shortly after, Wilkinson was next to feel the heat, and not just the Roman rising sun, but the injection of pace from Zhang as he made five metres on Bermudez, who in turn carved out the same, despite a great walk from the Great Briton.

Wilkinson dug deep to close the gap, and lost it in the next 100 metres, with the Spaniard storming after the Chinese leader.

The short but quick striding Zhang ate up the ground over the last kilometre to make certain of his win, and Bermudez also had a bit of daylight to spare to win silver.

However, a magnificent last 150 metres between the tiring Wilkinson and Chama, who clearly got a second wind in the second half of the race, excited the throng at the finishing line.

The two were as far opposite as possible on the track heading to the line, but it was the Mexican who prevailed. Wilkinson’s razor sharp race walk was rewarded with another personal best, this time in 40:30 to take more than a minute off his own national junior record. His fourth-place finish was the highest position achieved by a Briton in any race at these championships since 1979.

The winner, however, claimed he was far from certain about gold on the start line.

“At the beginning I felt my condition was not so good,” said Zhang, the world youth silver medallist. “It must be the weather; it was a bit too hot. In the last six kilometres I felt my energy would not be enough. I tried to adjust and then I perked up.”

Bermudez felt the warmth of the sun and a family gathered to cheer him on.

“I’m very satisfied,” he said. “I gave it my all because the race was difficult, it was really hot. My family is here and I feel supported. Before we started, I was hoping for a fast race like it has been in the past, but I didn't think I would be on the podium.”

Chama enjoyed the benefit of bronze and qualification for the IAAF World U20 Championships Bydgoszcz 2016 in July.

“It was a tough race – and I knew it would be, because it was my first season as an U20,” he said. “It’s a great moment for me as I made the qualification standards to compete in Bydgoszcz. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to compete with the senior national team in just a few years.”

Mexico were team champions, and newcomers Peru earned a magnificent team silver, with the improving Japanese taking the final medal.

20 km men

When it mattered, the pedigree of Wang Zhen shone through for an emphatic 20km gold at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016.

Parts of the course in the shadow of the Colosseum were shaded, but when it came to a duel, no one was able to match the heat of a last four-kilometre sprint from the two-time world silver medallist.

Wang won this competition in 2012, and four years later his speed was such it provided the only draft for lapped race walkers caught in his wake as he made for the line.

He had bided his time through a succession of pretenders who darted ahead and were reeled in like so many fish before the big one got away.

Wang looked reasonably untroubled as he moved through the gears, and behind him Chinese teammate Cai Zelin also seized the chance to increase the revs, albeit at a distance.

His was an equally decisive drive for bronze, won by Spain’s Alvaro Martin from the fast-improving Dane Bird-Smith, who nonetheless notched a second personal best of the year – and this time by 26 seconds.

But it took a while for the race to ignite.

There is always one rabbit caught in the headlights on these occasions. In the past it used to be injured world record-holder Yusuke Suzuki; this time it turned out to be another Japanese, Takumi Saito, obviously keen to pick up a bit of frontman status.

He was joined by 2011 world bronze medallist Kim Hyunsub, who decided it was his turn to be the only one in camera shot as he went through at a modest 8:03 for 2km.

Once Kim had his five minutes in the sun, the group – or rather throng of 51 race walkers – would have been covered by the same large blanket if a spectator around the historic course had cared to throw one.

Brazil’s Moacir Zimmerman was next to show with South Africa’s Lebogang Shange treading on his heels. The 5km mark was another modest 20:21, slower by a second than the junior men in the morning.

India were looking good for a team prize with three in the first 12, even though it was a fluid dozen, while Zimmerman struck out to head the rest and was left to his own devices for a lot longer than those before him.

Even so, he was swallowed up after another two plus kilometres, and this time the group was down to a more manageable 25 by the halfway point in 40:22 that betrayed a very even pace – one well within the scope of most of the frontmen.

Canada’s world bronze medallist Ben Thorne then took over lead duties despite claiming in casual conversation before the race that he would be the man following.

But even given the warm afternoon, the tempo was modest at this level.

Cai decided this was the moment to strike and quickly opened a four-second gap close to 13km. He too perished like the lone wolves before him, although by 14km at 56:14 the medals were going to be three from nine.

Defending champion Ruslan Dmytrenko was next to ease off the back. In Taicang two years ago, it was raining and cool. This race was hot and rough but it suited Wang to a tee.

Off he went into the distance never to be headed, and for about 200 metres over the final kilometre, Martin first drew level and passed Cai, who reacted almost instantly to retake second spot.

Martin, and not world champion Miguel Angel Lopez, was the Spaniard climbing on to the third step this time, and even though he was without a medal this time, Bird-Smith looked as if his career as a serious contender had just taken off.

China were comfortable winners ahead of a strong Canadian trio headed by Thorne in fifth. The sterling work from Andres Chocho one place further back was the cement that saw Ecuador plant their collective feet on the team podium for bronze.

The winner was phlegmatic about his latest victory.

“I did not think I had the right training to win a medal,” said Wang. “We just thought this was a good chance to test our condition before the Olympics, and it gives me confidence for Rio.”

Cai was likewise none too impressed with his silver.

“I am not too satisfied because I didn’t reach my ideal performance,” he said. “I don’t have many chances against Wang, and I am still far from his level. I will learn from him.”

But Martin was delighted with an unexpected third.

“This was a good competition with great Chinese and Japanese athletes, and a very good race ahead of the Olympic Games,” he explained.

“In the last 3km, I knew it was possible to win a medal and I had to be strong, it was so good. You have to do what makes you happy and race walking makes me very happy.”

50 km

Alex Schwazer wore the same style sunglasses as the Terminator while winning the 50km at the IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships Rome 2016, and – like the movie character’s immortal phrase – made clear he was back.

The 2008 Olympic champion, returning from a four-year doping suspension, took the race by the scruff of the neck between 25km and 30km and forge an unbeatable gap that grew and grew.

By 41km it was 1:35 on lone chaser Jared Tallent and the Italian was rewarded for his literal bold steps to breast the line back on the track next to the course in the centre of Rome.

Schwazer did the damage with three near 21:30 five-kilometre splits from 25km to 40km that varied by just a second.

In contrast, the Australian multiple major championships medallist had a relatively tough 5km leading up to 40km when he posted 22:11, helped little by losing the one other trying to reel in the leader.

Han Yucheng, with a personal best of 3:36:20, didn’t just slow at 39km; the Chinese stopped dead in his tracks.

Remarkably, a few seconds earlier Han had a final dig at getting away from the Australian, and Tallent even moved aside to let the 37-year-old through on the inside at a turn.

But in less than 200 metres, that desperate feeling 50km race walkers get when all goes to pot hit Han like a hammer.

He slowed to the same pace as strolling tourists, and Tallent was left to chase alone. Han decided that even limping was not for him and called it a day.

It allowed Italy’s Matteo Giupponi, long since dropped, to move back into a medal slot – but even then not for long.

Even further back Italian teammate Marco de Luca looked as if he would be buried in the middle of the field. But he came again to take up third and maybe start a trend for medical tape on leg and shoulders in national colours.

The green, white and red in the healing strips strapped to the Italian mirrored the country’s flag perfectly, and with some justification: his country comfortably took the team prize.

However, De Luca became yet another victim of a race walker coming up the inside.

Igor Glavan went up a couple of gears to pass the tiring Italian and storm down the home straight for bronze and claim Ukraine’s seventh medal at the past three editions after his country also won team silver.

Glavan sunk to his knees in gratitude at the line, but his country’s rise as a race walking force is indisputable.

The first 20km was the usual cagey affair and the lead switched back and forth.

But then Schwazer decided it was time to make a return statement and pushed on. First to blink was Han, caught between a rock and a hard place.

A turn at the top of the course made it clear the Italian was getting away, and so the Chinese kept looking behind him hoping for help.

None was forthcoming, and by 30km the gap had grown to 28 seconds and extended to 50 seconds after 35km.

There was no limitation on the damage after that, and the biggest crowd of the two days were understandably at the track finish to cheer Schwazer over the line.

The home joy was apparent when a media scrum surrounded the Italian while Glavan walked through the media zone untroubled to re-join his happy teammates.

Tallent took his eighth incredible medal at 50km since 2008, and then revealed he was plagued by hamstring trouble over the past six months.

“I’m reasonably pleased to have walked like I did, bearing in mind my training has been compromised, and yes, I see this as a positive stepping stone towards the Olympics and Rio.

“But as a battle between Schwazer and myself? If the Russians are readmitted to athletics, they’re always competitive, and there is Yohann (Diniz) and Matej (Toth) who aren’t here,” he said.

The winner admitted the modest tempo at the beginning played into his hands.

“The race was a bit strange,” added Schwazer. “At the beginning we couldn't find a good pace.

“In the end it went really, really well and I'm very, very satisfied. I am going to really savour it today and tomorrow and think about the next races.”

Glavan was glad that his previous fourth-place finishes at World Championships finally turned into a medal – especially a day after the 80th birthday of Ukrainian and Olympic hero Vladimir Golubnichiy to go with the chance to stand next to Tallent at the medal ceremony.

“We have a strong coach and a strong tradition with Golubnichiy," Glavan said. "The circuit was not normal and not round and it was both difficult and interesting.

“Jared Tallent is my idol because he is a very strong sportsman and I am happy to be next to him during the ceremony.

“At 44km I saw my team, my coach and they spoke to me and told me I was in a good position and I could have a medal,” he said. “It gives me hope for the Olympics.”

Having struggled during the middle stages, De Luca came through to take fourth place while teammate Teodorico Caporaso finished strongly to place fifth. Their pair set respective PBs of 3:44:47 and 3:48:29. With three athletes in the top five, Italy also won the team title.

Glavan led Ukraine to team silver, while Spain took bronze.

USA's Erin Talcott, the first woman ever to contest the 50km at this championships, crossed the line in 40th place in 4:51:08.

Decision of TAS

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal filed by the Italian racewalker Alex Schwazer who challenged the provisional suspension imposed on him by the International Association of Athletics Federations," CAS said in a statement. 

"Furthermore, the CAS sanctioned him with an eight-year period of ineligibility starting on the date of today, less any period of provisional suspension effectively served as of 8 July 2016. 

"All competitive results obtained by Alex Schwazer from and including 1 January 2016 are disqualified with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes. 

"On 18 July 2016, the CAS already dismissed an urgent request for provisional measures filed by the athlete."

Schwarzer will now be stripped of his IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships title he won in Rome.

The gold medal will pass to Australia's Jared Tallent, who had also finished second to Schwarzer at Beijing 2008. 

Ukraine's Igor Glavan is set to be promoted to the silver medal position from the race in Rome and Schwarzer's team-mate, Marco De Luca, to the bronze.