Nadia Battocletti, the reigning European champion on cross country and on track over 5000m and 10,000m will be targeting a unique hat-trick on the roads in the women’s 10km at the European Running Championships, taking place in Brussels-Leuven on 12-13 April.
The event will be streamed live from start to finish with English-language commentary on the European Athletics website.
Victory on the streets of Leuven on Sunday (13) will seal the Italian’s status as the continent’s premier female endurance runner, regardless of terrain.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference in Brussels on Friday (11), the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist from Paris last year, is the pre-race favourite and she senses the expectation.
All eyes on Battocletti
“Probably eyes are on me on Sunday,” she admits. “But I am so confident about my performance and my training. Everything is good. I did a lot of cross country races and an indoor race in Lieven (this winter), and I am ready for Sunday.”
The women’s 10km is potentially the most competitive race of the entire championships with Battocletti’s rivals likely to include European leader Klara Lukan of Slovenia (30:26), European 10,000m silver medallist Diane van Es of the Netherlands and four-time European cross country champion Yasemin Can of Türkiye.
“We run with a lot of strong athletes,” said Battocletti, fully aware of the field that awaits. “It will be fun. I also run with them in Rome and in Antalya, so we will see.”
With track and cross country titles in her possession, she also expressed her gratitude of this new event on the European calendar. “I really appreciate this kind of championship because it is missing. We do cross country, track and field and indoor championships, it is missing the (road) running championships,” she added.
Gressier ready to show full range
Speaking alongside her was France’s Jimmy Gressier who - in contrast to Battocletti – is seeking his first senior international title. A three-times gold medallist in the men’s U23 race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships (2017-2019) he is maturing into one of Europe’s finest distance runners.
Already this year, he has taken ownership of European records for the 5km road (12:57) and 5000m indoors (12:54.92).
At the 2023 World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, he was the leading European in the half marathon, placing 5th in 59:46, proving his range across distances.
Speaking through a translator, he revealed he had closely analysed the course and had noted: “Quite a steep climb after 4k and in final kilometres, some climbing as well. But I am not afraid of that.”
Recognised for his unique race winning celebrations, he also teased that he has something up his sleeve, should he succeed in Saturday’s half marathon.
“It’s a secret,” he was quoted by the translator. “But it could be a first glimpse to something that is important to me this track season.”
Saturday (12) will see the half marathons take place in Leuven and Sunday will see the marathon starting in Brussels and finishing in Leuven, which will also host the 10km races with individual and team medals available in all categories.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics