World and Olympic medallist Nadia Battocletti retained her Campaccio title while Burundi\u2019s Egide Ntakarutimana claimed a commanding victory at the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Light rain and heavy mud in San Giorgio su Legnano created testing conditions on one of the sport\u2019s most iconic cross-country courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women\u2019s 6km race unfolded over three laps, with a compact pack settling into a measured tempo on the opening circuit. Battocletti, 2024 Campaccio winner Francine Niyomukunzi, Elvanie Nimbona and Giulia Zanne and were prominent early as the field assessed the slippery conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The race began to take shape on the second lap when Battocletti made a decisive surge, while Niyomukunzi, Nimbona and Britain\u2019s Emily Collinge struggled to respond. A slip in one of the course\u2019s most technical muddy sections briefly cost the Italian a few seconds, but she quickly regained control and continued to press on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battocletti powered away on the final lap to secure a convincing victory in 21:10. Niyomukunzi finished second in 21:32, edging out Burundian compatriot Nimbona (21:33). Collinge and Italy\u2019s Lucia Arnoldo rounded out the top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was so much mud in some corners, you almost sank into it \u2013 I even crashed on the second lap,\u201d said Battocletti. \u201cWe started quite slowly, but in the technical sections I realised it was difficult to stay together, so I decided to push on for safety. Winning Campaccio for the second year in a row is really special. It\u2019s a great way to start my 2026 season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men\u2019s 10km contest, contested over five laps, remained tightly packed through the early stages before the decisive moves came in the closing kilometres. Burundi\u2019s Celestin Ndikumana and Egide Ntakarutimana, along with Uganda\u2019s Dolphine Chelimo, formed a leading trio from the fourth lap. Much to the delight of the home crowd, Italy\u2019s Luca Alfieri maintained contact with the leaders for much of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the start of the final lap, Ndikumana and Ntakarutimana began to assert themselves, gradually dropping Chelimo. Midway through the lap, Ntakarutimana launched a powerful solo attack and continued to increase his advantage, crossing the line first in 30:38.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelimo recovered strongly in the closing stages to claim second in 30:45, narrowly ahead of 2025 runner-up Ndikumana, who finished third in the same time. Alfieri rallied late to finish sixth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy with how I ran today,\u201d said Ntakarutimana, who was 10th here last year and fourth in 2024. \u201cAfter some ups and downs, I\u2019ve regained confidence and form thanks to my training group. I\u2019ll continue with the cross-country season and try to keep representing my club at my best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women (6km)<\/strong> Men (10km)<\/strong> World and Olympic medallist Nadia Battocletti retained her Campaccio title while Burundi\u2019s Egide Ntakarutimana claimed a commanding victory<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[50,280],"class_list":["post-8406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-athletics","tag-cross-country"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
1 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 21:10
2 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 21:32
3 Elvanie Nimbona (BDI) 21:33
4 Emily Collinge (GBR) 21:34
5 Lucia Arnoldo (ITA) 21:52
6 Chiara Munaretto (ITA) 22:05<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 30:38
2 Dolphine Chelimo (UGA) 30:45
3 Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) 30:45
4 Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui (TUN) 31:00
5 Abrham Sime (ETH) 31:04
6 Luca Alfieri (ITA) 31:06<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"