Runner wins marathon after the people in front of him go the wrong way
Getting lost in Venice is half the fun.
Unless you're a group of runners at the 2017 Venice Marathon on Sunday, who found themselves off course midway during the race.
The lead pack of seven athletes followed a motorcycle that took a wrong turn 25 kilometres into the race, according to a report by the IAAF. By the time the pack rejoined the race, they trailed a new lead pack by a minute.
The kerfuffle allowed for Eyob Gebrehiwet, an Eritrean-born Italian runner from a local club, to win the marathon in a time of 2:12:16. He is the first Italian man to win the race since 1995.
"Today's race shows that the work is paying off," Gebrehiwet told the IAAF.
"It was not an easy race as I had to run alone on the Ponte della Libertà. I dedicate the win to myself as I have always believed in my work despite all the difficulties."
Gebrehiwet finished more than two minutes ahead of the second placed runner, Muhammed Mussa, who had a time of 2:15:14. Gilbert Chumba, who was part of the lost lead pack, finished fourth with a time of 02:16:47.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
The moment certainly has echoes of Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury's gold medal win at the 2002 Winter Olympics, albeit less dramatic.
Sometimes all you need is luck.
