Moustaoui and Ayalew take the honours at the Algrave Almond Blossom Cross Country

Morocco’s Mohamed Moustaoui, running in the colours of French club Ales Cevennes Athletisme, provided the big surprise at the Algarve Almond Blossom Cross Country on Sunday (2), with the IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting this year incorporating the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country.

Moustaoui broke away at the halfway point in the 9.85km race with Spain’s Ayad Llamdassem, the Cup winner in 2008 and 2012 running for the Spanish team Atletismo Bikila, and Brazil’s Daniel sa Silva, from the Dutch team AV Cifla, for company.

Ayalew again in Albufeira

There was a less surprising outcome of the women’s race when Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew extended her winter unbeaten streak to six races with a comfortable victory, taking the individual honours in the Cup for the third successive year.

Running for the Turkish club Usküdar Belediye SK and running at the front for most of the 6.175km race, the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships silver medallist crossed the line in 20:15.

She finished 11 seconds ahead of Italy’s Nadia Ejjafini, who was competing for C.S Esercito. Read more at IAAF.org