Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei has won the Cannes 10k road race.
Cheptegei, who won an Olympic 5,000m gold and a 10,000m in Tokyo last summer, took the victory at Cannes 10Km on Sunday in 26 minutes and 49 seconds.
“Happy to see where I stand. It’s great to start my season with a World Lead. This gives me confidence for my track season,” Cheptegei said after starting his 2022 season with a win.
Kenya’s Samuel Habtom came a distant second on 27 minutes and 51 seconds while Uganda’s Abel Sikowo came third, posting 27.58 minutes.
Cheptegei last took part in the 10km road race in 2019 when he smashed the world record in the 10km race after crossing the finishing line in 26 minutes and 38 seconds at the 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso, although his world record didn’t last long.
Six weeks later, Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto smashed the record when he posted 26 minutes, 24 seconds in Valencia. He lowered Cheptegei’s world record by 14 seconds, making Cheptegei the second-fastest man in the world over the 10km road race.