The U20 men’s 10km went to form at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Podebrady on Sunday (21) with favourite Diego Giampaolo leading the way and also providing the first half of an Italian double.
His lifetime best of 41:47 going into the race was the best time of the year and although he had to be content with a slower 42:16 this time - he was clearly the master of his own destiny.
He made a move on the sixth lap no-one could live with and although he received a couple of judges’ warnings, Giampaolo held form to drape the obligatory Italian flag over his shoulders through the tape.
The tall Hayrettin Yildiz from Türkiye stayed strong for silver and a lifetime best of 42:24 while Spain’s Pablo Rodriguez held on for bronze and a second lifetime best on the podium with 42:37.
They were just that much better than the rest as shown when European U18 champion Frederick Weigel - son of the famous East German race walker and coach Ronald Weigel - came home fourth, 52 seconds down on the winner.
A pivotal moment of the race came when it looked as if Giampaolo literally caught the heel of Yildiz as they completed the seven kilometre-mark. The Turkish race walker had to drop to his knees to pull back on his left shoe dangling from his foot.
But if that was unfortunate, there was nothing either he or any of the other competitors could do about the Italian’s push a minute later.
He upped the gears for 4:03 over the next one kilometre and a six-second lead over his pursuers, and that decided the podium.
Another close team finish saw Spain nudge Italy off the top by one point - eight to nine points - with Germany taking bronze ahead of Türkiye - again by a single digit with 13 to 14 points.
Gabriele moves out of reach in the women’s U20 race
And in the last race of the day, Giulia Gabriele gifted Italy its third individual gold of the day and like the U20 men, the 17-year-old struck for home on a decisive sixth lap and opened up a yawning winning gap of more than one minute.
It made the last four kilometres something of a procession and unsurprisingly, Gabriele’s winning time of 46:42 was a personal best by 30 seconds.
The year’s European U20 leading time belongs to Aldara Meilan but the Spaniard didn’t have the answers this time. However, she still bagged a fine silver in 47:45 and led the Spaniards to the team title to ensure they would top the medal table in Podebrady.
And as a 16-year-old, Meilan has plenty of time to change the hue of her medal.
In a distant third, France’s Ana Delahaie sprinted when it mattered to get ahead of the home nation’s standout medal home Ema Klimentova.
That effort was to prove pivotal in the team standings with France winning team bronze on countback ahead of the host nation.
And there was also a dramatic twist in the destination of the team title with a late penalty for Giada Traina effectively scuppering Italy’s chance of taking the team title along with the individual title.
Spain was the beneficiary as their second counter Griselda Serret came through to finish sixth which ensured the Spaniards would win the team title by one point.
And this had a tangible outcome on the overall medal table with Spain topping proceedings with six gold medals to Italy’s five.
The only other gold medal in Podebrady went to Greece with Antigoni Ntrismpioti winning the 20km race walk title - but only just ahead of Antonella Palmisano.
Full results here.
Paul Warburton for European Athletics