The Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele missed his third victory in the Berlin Marathon after 2016 and 2019 despite a race to catch up.

His victorious compatriot Guye Adola also clearly missed the world record of Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge in late summer conditions.

The 30-year-old Adola won on Sunday in 2:05:45 hours ahead of the surprisingly strong Kenyan Bethwel Yegon (2:06:14) and the 39-year-old Bekele (2:06:47).

The Kenyan Kipchoge ran the world record time of 2:01:39 hours in the capital three years ago.

The world best time of the year for Kenyan Titus Ekiru, who ran 2:02:57 hours in Milan in May, also remained.

In the women’s category, too, the favorite did not win.

The Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase prevailed in 2:20:09 hours ahead of her compatriot Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:21:23), who actually wanted to increase her annual world best of 2:19:35 hours.

Third was Helen Tola from Kenya (2:23:05).

Local hero Rabea Schöneborn came in ninth (2:28:49).

After a break from racing and corona infection

The three-time Olympic champion Bekele celebrated his second victory in the last Berlin Marathon in 2019 and in 2:01:41 hours missed the world record set in the same place a year earlier by just two seconds. After a two-year break from racing and a corona infection nine months ago, the leading group with Bekele was initially on a world record course in late summer warmth and high humidity.

But after almost 18 kilometers, in view of the fact that the pace was too high for him, Bekele had to tear down, while the group passed the half marathon mark after less than 61 minutes - and thus faster than planned. After a good 25 kilometers, Bekele was back among the leaders who had to pay tribute to the high pace in the sunshine. A duel between Bekele and Adola at the top developed, which the outsider won at kilometer 35. Bekele even had to let Yegon pass, who ran up to Adola but did not come by.

In the end, Bekele did not achieve his big goal of getting the best mark over the 42.195 kilometers after setting the world records over 5000 and 10,000 meters.

In six weeks he still wants to start the prestigious New York Marathon.

The greatest reserves had Adola, who received a prize of 20,000 euros for his greatest success.

In 2020, the Berlin Marathon fell victim to the pandemic.

This year the race is said to have been the starting signal for a return to normal for major road races.

As the first of the six most important 42.195-kilometer races in the world, the Berlin Marathon allowed a significant number of participants again after the outbreak of the pandemic.

Around 25,000 runners from 139 nations started.