Amsterdam Marathon 2013: Prediction, Preview and Course Guide

The Amsterdam Marathon ranks as one of the largest of its kind in Europe and indeed the world.

Offering one of the most aesthetically pleasing routes that one can find on the continent’s marathon scene, this year is expected to once again welcome more than 40,000 runners from more than 80 different countries.

In the men’s race, not since 2001 has a European athlete emerged as victor in the Dutch capital. France’s Driss El Himer won on that occasion, while Slovenia’s Helena Javornik was the last non-African female to win the women’s competition in 2004.

Since then, each respective race has been dominated by Kenya and Ethiopia, who continue to trade blows in Amsterdam year after year.

That being said, 2013 could be the year that another came to break up the existing duopoly of Amsterdam and establish their nation’s role in the power struggle.

Date: Sunday, October 20 2013

Start Time: 8:30 a.m. BST/3:30 a.m. ET

TV Info: Eurosport 2

Course Guide

Beginning and ending in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, this year’s race couldn’t have a more visceral feeling of high-stakes competition.

For the first time ever, the 26.2-mile Amsterdam Marathon will include the Rijksmuseum as a part of its route, linking the city centre with its southern territory.

As described on the event’s official website, the new introduction is one of the more scenic stages in the run and fulfills a long-standing wish of Le Champion (the event’s organiser) in blending the mix of sport and culture magnificently.

A fine picture of the establishment was tweeted out by @Jonesiah:

Other fine structures along the route include the Museum of the Tropics, the Amstel Hotel and the Vondel Park, Amsterdam’s largest public park.

Windmills and the Amstel River are just two of the other sights one can expect to enjoy on the way, too, with the Amsterdam Arena, home of Eredivisie’s Ajax (the Godenzonen) visible in parts.

One to Watch

Wilson Chebet

Known as “Mister Amsterdam” for a reason, Wilson Chebet heads to Sunday’s event hoping to become the first runner ever, male or female, to complete a hat-trick of successive victories.

The Kenyan runner already holds the course record with last year’s time of two hours, five minutes and 41 seconds, but will be hoping to improve that number once again in 2013.

Kenya has won nine of the last 11 Amsterdam marathons, with Ethiopia accounting for the other two, and it’s hard to see that tug-of-war being broken up this weekend.

Prediction: Chebet makes history with a third successive title.