TCS Lidingöloppet's classical 30K course is, through its many hills, the perfect scene for exciting dramaturgy, and this year's race was no exception.
The men's race for example offered a thrilling showdown between four runners right from the start. Halfway through the race, the Ugandan runners Oscar Kibet and Oscar Niyonzima seemed to have the upper hand, but with only 3.4K left, Hässelby SK's Samuel Russom suddenly picked up the pace. After climbing up the steep Karin's Backe and using the last forces in a final kick along Grönsta gärde, he crossed the finish line as the race's winner in 1:36:56 - 1.24 minutes before the race's runner-up Oscar Kibet.
There was less uncertainty about the winner in the women's 30K race. Sylvia Medugu from Kenya - the victor in 2018 and 2019, and also the course record holder - went out in an unparalelled pace and kept the margin to the rest of the field throughout the race. After 1:55:03, she won her third TCS Lidingöloppet gold medal with a 2:49 minute margin to the runner-up.
The focus of the drama were instead the struggle between the Helle runner Samrawit Mengsteab and Linnéa Sennström from Hässelby. In the famous Abborrbacken, Sennström passed Mengsteab and finished second in the race, 21 seconds ahead of Mengsteab.
Women's 30K
1. Sylvia Medugu 1:55:03
