World 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier made a victorious return to racing at the Course de l’Escalade in Geneva on Sunday (7) afternoon.
In his first race since the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Gressier won the 7.323km race in 20:35 by a clear distance over Kenya’s Boniface Kibiwott in 20:55 with Mike Foppen from the Netherlands third in 20:58.
European 10,000m champion Dominic Lobalu, who pipped Gressier for victory in a sprint finish last year’s race, had to settle for 10th in 21:22.
"I wanted to come here and get my revenge," Gressier told Swiss television "I made sure today that there wouldn't be a photo finish. I started more cautiously. I even wanted to wait for the final sprint because that's become my trademark. But when I launched an attack, they couldn't keep up."
Gressier is on the entry-list for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa on 14 December but he will make a decision on whether or not to compete early next week.
In the women’s race, last year’s winner Diane Van Es from the Netherlands had to settle for second behind Kenya’s Winnie Jeptarus - 23:40 to 23:44.
Full results here
