19th May 2013 03:59
This was the best race of the day as far as a man versus man event.
The title looked a foregone conclusion with two laps to go: Denis Strelkov from Russia was going to win.
But having built up a substantial lead, the Russian suddenly appeared to slow. But the truth was Matej Toth and Miguel Angel Lopez was going faster.
After a string of Russian victories throughout the day, it looked as if an upset was on the cards when a 35 second advantage earlier dwindled to just 10 with one more kilometre to race.
Spurred on by a home crowd, Slovakia's Toth went after Lopez. The Spaniard went after the Russian, and the anguished face of Strelkov made it plain what the winning effort cost him as he crossed the line.
It was all very different when a gang of many members went through 3km in 12:10.
Ireland's Robbie Heffernan and Strelkov were marginal chiefs, but even when the group reached 5k (20:21) there were few willing to abdicate a grip on the top 15.
Around 70 metres back three Poles and a Portuguese were straining to stare at the leaders backs.
By 10k (40:49), the group had been thinned to 10. Spain's Ben Sanchez was a noticeable casualty after he called it a day, but the rest ploughed on, immune to the conditions.
The two following from around 100m were former European Cup winner Giorgio Rubino and Ivan Losev from Ukraine.
Any pretence of a truce was dead at 12k.
Strelkov cut loose, and five metres back his three team-mates also cut the tow rope to an illustrious gathering including local favourite Toth, Norway's Eric Tysse, Christopher Linke (Germany) and Lopez.
The rest of Europe including Heffernan was having none of that and soon dragged back the trio – but not Strelkov who was clearly going for broke.
Having already recorded a personal best on home soil in February where it was also sunny down on the Black Coast, the Russian clearly has a penchant for warm walking.
Even though he was 21 seconds up on Toth at 15k, Lopez and Ivanov (Russia), the trio were having a battle royale for the rest of the medals.
With two laps to go Lopez pushed on followed by Toth, and the rest headed backwards.
At the end, a happy Toth admitted adrenalin had kicked in.
'Of course, there was pressure to do well at home,' he said. 'I got a second place (at 20k) two years ago, and have made progress since then as well.
'I was thinking maybe we could catch Strelkov, but he had just enough.'
The Russian winner reckoned he 'dared to dream' after posting his 1:19:53 PB only in February.
He added: 'It was very hard during the race, too hot, too hard – but I felt in fantastic form.'