There were double victories for Europe at the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni - IAAF Race Walking Challenge 2007 - when Norwegian, Erik Tysse, and European 20km Champion Rita Turava, Belarussia took the titles at the 50^th edition of the famous competition.

The men's race was expected to see a victory for local hero Ivano Brugnetti, who was looking for the first win of his career in Sesto San Giovanni. The reigning Olympic 20km champion and former World 50km champion took an early lead in the first laps inside the stadium encouraged by the strong support from the home crowd.  

Shortly after 15km, however, the Olympic champion dropped out leaving the way open for Erik Tysse (right) to win the biggest race of his career in 1:21:38. 

European bronze medallist, Joao Vieira from Portugal also took third on this occasion.  

"It was family business today", said a very delighted Tysse after crossing the finish-line. "My coach told me to be careful. It was hot and humid and it could be dangerous. But I was focused on walking my race. At 16 km I began feeling stronger. I came from behind but I pushed harder when I saw that I was closing the gap on the early leader Luke Adams. The crowd along the course pushed me and gave me a lot of energy," said Tysse.

In the women's event, Turava took off from the gun with a group of Chinese and after staying in the group until half-way, increased the tempo to win pretty much as she pleased in a course record of 1:27:10, the fastest time in the world this year. 

Olympic silver medallist Kjersti-Tysse Plätzer, (below) the sister of men's winner Erik, started more conservatively in the early stages of the race staying in the chasing group with Germans Melanie Seeger and Sabine Zimmer, and Belarus' Elena Ginko. 

As the race progress, however, Plätzer grew in strength and confidence, eventually finishing in a new national record of 1:27:41 which improved the old record she set in 2000 during the Olympic year in which she won the silver in Sydney.  

For the Norwegian 2007 has marked a brilliant return to form after her maternity leave. This season she won the first leg of the circuit in Naucalpan followed by a runner-up placing in Rio Maior where she picked a minor lower back injury.  

"I was focused on walking my own race and being patient. It was a fight against the time to recover from the injury and I decided not to follow the strong pace of the Chinese who pushed hard from the beginning. The tactic paid off and it was rewarded with a national record. The last time I set a national record was in 2000. It's the eighth time I am in Sesto. Seven times I went to the podium and once I did not compete because I was pregnant", said Plätzer who gave birth to her second child in 2005.

"It's like competing at home here with crowd shouting my name along the course. Now I need rest and focus on my training. In June I will return to competitions. I am planning La Coruna, Krakow and the National Champs before a training stint in St. Moritz before Osaka," continued Plätzer.   

European Results from Sesto San Giovanni:  

20km Men:

1. Erik Tysse (Norway)  1:21:38
3. Joao Vieira (Portugal)  1:23:16
4. Mikel Odriozola (Spain)  1.24:19
6. Jean Jacques Nkouloukidi (Italy) 1:24:22
8. Alessandro Gandellini (Italy) 1:24:28
9. Fortunato D'Onofrio (Italy) 1:24:55

20km Women:

1. Ryta Turava (Belarus)  1:27:10
2. Kjersti Plätzer (Norway)  1:27:41
5. Sabine Zimmer (Germany) 1:30:20
6. Elisa Rigaudo (Italy)  1:30:54
8. Ines Henriques (Portugal)  1:31:21
9. Susana Feitor (Portugal)  1:31:40
10. Melanie Seeger (Germany) 1:32:29