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Leaders get lost during Venice marathon, local takes advantage

Venetian Eyob Faniel won his city’s marathon after farcical scenes in which the favourites were led along the wrong route by a motorcycle guide. Abdulahl Dawud, Gilbert Kipleting Chumba, Kipkemei Mutai and David Kiprono Metto were leading the race after around 25kn. Following a motorcycle guide, they had traveled a few hundred metres before realising they had been led off course and turning back. TV footage showed confused scenes as marshalls frantically redirected the runners. By the time they had rejoined the course they had lost two minutes, allowing Faniel, who had been trailing the group, to take a lead that would prove decisive. Faniel, 25, is the first Italian to win the race in more than two decades.