Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu, who recently won bronze in the senior men’s race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa will return to road racing on Sunday (21) to take on 2023 European cross country champion Yann Schrub of France.
The familiar foes, who took gold and silver over 10,000m at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, with Lobalu prevailing, will line up at the Corrida de Houilles 10km race in France.
With a reputation as one of the fastest courses in Europe, fast times are anticipated at the World Athletics Silver label road race. At the 2018 edition, Julien Wanders set a then-European record time of 27:25.
A deep field also includes Kenyans John Aimun and Jacob Krop, with personal bests of 27:13 and 27:15 respectively, plus world U20 cross country champion Sime Mezgebu of Ethiopia.
The women's race includes Slovenia’s European 10km bronze medallist Klara Lukan, and Kazakhstan's former world 3000m steeplechase champion Norah Jeruto.
The French challenge is headed by European 3000m steeplechase champion Alice Finot, French half marathon record holder Mekdes Woldu and Olympic marathon runner Melody Julien.