Multiple European champion Nadia Battocletti seeking to end the year with another victory and a European record bid by Thierry Ndikumwenayo are among a packed schedule of exciting road races set to bring 2025 to a close New Year’s Eve (31 December).
Italy's Battocletti, current European champion on 10km road, 5000m, 10,000m on track and who recently defended her senior women’s title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, will compete over 5km at the BOClassic in Bolzano in her home country.
The 25-year-old is the current European record holder with 14:32, set in Tokyo in May. The world and Olympic 10,000m silver medallist will attempt to repeat her victory in last year’s race up against Great Britain’s experienced Cari Hughes and Ethiopian international Ksanet Alem.
In the men’s race, Italian record holder and 2024 European half marathon champion Yemaneberhan Crippa will go up against Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha and Telahun Haile Bekele and South Africa's Maxime Chaumeton.
Ndikumwenayo eyes European record in Barcelona
Meanwhile at the B100 Cursa dels Nassos, Battocletti’s fellow European cross country champion Thierry Ndikumwenayo is set to attack the European 5km record in Barcelona.
Ndikumwenayo got the better of world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier in the sprint finish to win gold at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa on 14 December and he will be looking to get another one over on the Frenchman, by challenging his existing record of 12:57 set in Lille in March.
Ndikumwenayo’s secondary goal could also be his Spanish national record of 13:08.
A strong international field also includes 2023 world 1500m bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordås of Norway, Spain’s Abdessamad Oukhelfen, who was sixth in Lagoa, European U23 10,000m champion Joel Ibler Lillesø of Denmark and Portugal’s 10km record holder José Carlos Pinto.
The women’s race features France’s European indoor 1500m champion Agathe Guillemot and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw who has been a standout performer in this winter’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, winning in Amorebieta and Soria.
European medallists set for Madrid battle
Around 500km to the west, at the San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid, European 10,000m silver medallist Diane va Es of the Netherlands and European 5000m bronze medallist Marta Garcia of Spain head the entries for the elite women’s race.
In the men’s race, 2023 European indoor 800m champion Adrián Ben and former European U23 10,000m champions Carlos Mayo and Eduardo Menacho lead the domestic challenge against Kenya’s three-times world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor.
World silver medallist Petros heads exciting entries for German races
In Germany, at the Silvesterlauf in Trier, world marathon silver medallist Amanal Petros over 5km, international teammate Samuel Fitwi, Norway’s half marathon and marathon record holder Sondre Nordstad Moen and Dutch 5000m record holder Mike Foppen are all set to compete in the men’s 5km.
Twice European 3000m steeplechase winner Gesa Krause and former European U23 3000m steeplechase winner Olivia Gürth lead the domestic challenge in the women’s 5km against last year's winner Emeline Imanizabayo of Rwanda and Sweden’s Sarah Lahti.
Over in Tubingen, European 10km silver medallist Eva Dieterich and six-time winner Simon Boch lead the entries for the women’s and men’s race 10.5km at the Bietigheimer Silvesterlauf.
Koster leads Dutch challenge at Sylverstercross Soest
In the Netherlands, the Sylverstercross Soest takes place on a cross country course of 7km for women and 9.5km for men. Former European indoor 3000m silver medallist Maureen Koster leads the home challenge in the women’s race.
In the men’s race, Great Britain’s Olympic marathon runner Mahamed Mahamed will be attempting to win the race for the third successive year.
Beattie and Walcott-Nolan set for British races
In Great Britain, Scott Beattie who was pipped for bronze at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, will head up the men’s field at the HogmanHoway 5k in Newcastle. The women’s field includes international teammates Verity Ockenden and Izzy Fry.
Meanwhile at London’s Battersea Park, European Indoor 1500m bronze medallist Revee Walcott-Nolan and Tokyo Olympic finalist Alex Bell lead the women’s entries at the Mizuno x FNUL New Year's Eve 5k.