Top runners shortlist unveiled

Milan, May 11, 2021 – The élite Athletes who are going to fight for the victory at the Generali Milano Marathon special edition on Sunday, May 16 – the international marathon organized by RCS Sports & Events – have been announced. 
The Organizers believe that there will be the ideal conditions to improve the best performance ever achieved on the Italian soil once again, given the most qualified start list in the history of this event. The bar is set at 2h04’46’’ for the men and at 2h20’08’’ for the women, the first set in 2019 by Titus Ekiru in Milan and the second by Angle Tanui in Siena in April. And we cannot forget that the appointment with the Milanese marathon is one of the few in place this spring for the top runners who aims at the Olympic entry standard.
The women’s start list includes, among the Ethiopians, Workenesh Edesa (PB 2h20’24’’ / bib no. 102) and Azmera Gebru (PB 2h20’48’’/ bib no. 103) who finished in the top three in Amsterdam and Tokyo. 
Along with these top élite contenders, Besu Sado (Ethiopian, PB 2h21’03” / bib no. 104), 4th at the 2019 Amsterdam Marathon, and the Kenyan Bornes Kitur (PB 2h21’26” / bib no. 105), the 2018 Prague Marathon winner.
In the men’s field the Kenyan Titus Ekiru, winner of the last edition of Milano Marathon (2019) in 2h04’46” – the course record – at the start with the bib no. 1, followed by the Ethiopians Leul Gebresilase (PB 2h04’02’’ / bib no. 2), the 2018 Valencia Marathon winner in 2h04’31’’, and Asefa Mengstu (PB 2h04’06’’ / bib no. 3) will aim at the victory. 
Another favourite is the Kenyan Reuben Kipyego (PB 2h04’12’’ / bib no. 4) – the 2019 Abu Dhabi Marathon winner in 2h04’40” (course record), followed by Seifu Tura (2018, Ethiopian, PB 2h04’44” / bib no. 5). The Ethiopian Mekuant Ayanew (PB 2h04’46” / bib no. 6) – the 2020 Siviglia Marathon winner in 2h04’46’’ should not be undervalued, followed by Emmanuel Saina (PB 2h05’02’’ / bib no. 7), the 2018 Buenos Aires Marathon winner in 2h05’21’’.
A concentration of champions with top records that makes the 2021 edition unique and the aspirations to see the 2h04 men’s record being broken legitimate and confirms the Generali Milano Marathon as the fastest in Italy. 
The course is a circuit, a 7.5km loop to be raced 5 times after a shorter initial loop (4,695 metres), to cover the classic 42,195 metres. 132 athletes will be lined-up, including 90 invited athletes and 42 admitted (out of nearly 130 applications) according to the standards fixed by the organization. 
The headquarters of the event are in piazza del Cannone, behind the Sforzesco Castle, the start and finish are also set. The start of the élite race is scheduled at 6.30 am.
The 10KM Competitive marathon is confirmed. The competitive runners, complying with the FIDAL requirements – FIDAL membership or Run Card holders – are given the opportunity to race on the same roads where a few hours earlier the top runners have competed. A unique chance for many passionate runners who, the same day of one of the most expected events internationally, can run with the same energy and enthusiasm as always on a fast and appealing course. The start of this race is scheduled from 9.30 am: two 5-km laps finishing in front of one of the iconic places in Milan, like the élite race. A share of 10KM Competitive race registration fee will be donated to one of the NPOs involved in the Milano Marathon Charity Program; the participants will receive the race kit with the bib number and the Under Armour technical jersey, as well as a medal at the finish line.
The Relay marathon to be raced on the official course has been canceled to ensure the safety of the runners – the priority goal of RCS Sports & Events. The registered teams at the Lenovo Relay Marathon, as agreed with the NPOs involved in the Milano Marathon Charity Program, can participate in the ANYWHERE relay marathon, thus guaranteeing the charitable support to the not-for-profit organizations, along with the over 2,000 runners in Italy, who have registered to this event to this day. So, the teams shall NOT show up at the start line in piazza del Cannone on May 16 morning, but can instead dispute the race in a different place by tracking their own course through a GPS device – either a watch or a smartphone – or with their favourite app, and then uploading it on the dedicated portal (Info and details on www.milanomarathon.en/lenovo-relay-marathon-solo-in-modalita-anywhere/).
PARTNERS AND INSTITUTIONS – Generali (Title Sponsor Milano Marathon) // Under Armour (Technical Sponsor) // Lenovo (Title Sponsor Relay Marathon e della sua estensione ANYWHERE) // Continental (Premium Partner). Levissima (Official Mineral Water) // Toyota (Official Car) // Supersapiens (Official Partner) // Enervit (Sport Nutrition Partner) // Garmin (Official Timekeeper) // Virgin Active (Official Partner) // So Beer (Official Supplier) // Best Western (Official Hotel) // Rio Mare (Official Supplier) // Nuncas (Virtual Supplier) // Dole (Supplier). La Gazzetta dello Sport (Special Media Partner) // RDS 100% Grandi Successi (Official Radio). Comune di Milano e Regione Lombardia. 
Updates will be posted on the website www.milanomarathon.en   and social media of the event.