# 20 km of Brussels

The 20 km of Brussels (French: 20 km de Bruxelles, Dutch: 20 km door Brussel) is a 20.1 km running race that has been held each year in Brussels since 1980, usually in May. It used to have a maximum number of 25,000 entries, which were normally sold out quite quickly after places go on sale in March, but in 2010 a staggered start-time approach led to an increased maximum number of entries of 40,000.
The race is a major event in Brussels, with a large turnout of supporters. The course is quite challenging, particularly due to the gentle, long overall climb and several tunnels between kilometer three and seven as well as the long and steep climb on Avenue de Tervueren towards the end of the race.
The exact course distance has varied over time. The 2014 course officially covers 20.1 km. The course often did not cover a complete 20 km circuit in its early history. The 2000 race was significantly shorter than the full distance and both the men's and women's winners finished the race more than three minutes ahead of the world records at the time.

## Past winners

KEY: Course record
       Italics = Short course
| Year | Men's race | Country | Time (h:m:s) | Women's race | Country | Time (h:m:s) |
| 2018 | Hassan Chahdi | France | 1:02:56 | Alexandra Tondeur | Belgium | 1:14:38 |
| 2017 | David Maru | Kenya | 1:00:37 | Sophie Hardy | Belgium | 1:13:42 |
| 2016 | Regis Thonon | Belgium | 1:02:07 | Manuela Soccol | Belgium | 1:13:51 |
| 2015 | Abdelhadi El Hachimi | Belgium | 1:01:47 | Manuela Soccol | Belgium | 1:13:48 |
| 2014 | Gilbert Kipruto Kirwa | Kenya | 59:05 | Ria Thienpondt | Belgium | 1:17:21 |
| 2013 | Peter Kariuki Wanjiru | Kenya | 59:22 | Catherine Lallemand | Belgium | 1:13:07 |
| 2012 | Faisa Tasama Dame | Ethiopia | 1:00:52 | Francine Niyonizigiye | Burundi | 1:13:09 |
| 2011 | Najim El Qady | Morocco | 59:41 | Francine Niyonizigiye | Burundi | 1:12:08 |
| 2010 | Onesphore Nkunzimana | Burundi | 1:01:29 | Alemitu Bekele | Belgium | 1:11:42 |
| 2009 | Najim El Qady | Morocco | 1:00:00 | Alemitu Bekele | Belgium | 1:16:38 |
| 2008 | Willy Kiptarbei | Kenya | 1:00:36 | Fatiha Baouf | Belgium | 1:10:56 |
| 2007 | Abduh Bakhet Mohamed | Qatar | 1:00:23 | Catherine Lallemand | Belgium | 1:12:13 |
| 2006 | Rik Ceulemans | Belgium | 1:02:37 | Catherine Lallemand | Belgium | 1:12:21 |
| 2005 | Koen van Rie | Belgium | 1:02:06 | Catherine Lallemand | Belgium | 1:10:05 |
| 2004 | Jussi Utriainen | Finland | 1:00:59 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:10:45 |
| 2003 | Jussi Utriainen | Finland | 1:02:38 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:08:54 |
| 2002 | Ahmed Jaber | Qatar | 1:02:03 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:07:46 |
| 2001 | Joseph Sitienei | Kenya | 1:01:23 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:10:48 |
| 2000 | Simon Kasimili | Kenya | 52:42 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:00:07 |
| 1999 | Mohammed Mourhit | Belgium | 1:00:32 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:10:25 |
| 1998 | Ondoro Osoro | Kenya | 56:15 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:05:07 |
| 1997 | Simon Bor | Kenya | 55:59 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:03:32 |
| 1996 | Wilson Omwoyo | Kenya | 55:41 | Marleen Renders | Belgium | 1:03:57 |
| 1995 | Vincent Rousseau | Belgium | 56:30 | Lieve Slegers | Belgium | 1:03:27 |
| 1994 | Julius Ondieki | Kenya | 56:06 | Lyudmila Afonjushkina | Russia | 1:05:38 |
| 1993 | Julius Ondieki | Kenya | 56:58 | Lidia Chulanova | Russia | 1:06:48 |
| 1992 | David Long | United Kingdom | 57:48 | Maria Ostrovskaya | Ukraine | 1:08:20 |
| 1991 | Ivan Uvizl | Czech Republic | 57:28 | Ria Van Landeghem | Belgium | 1:07:06 |
| 1990 | Douglas Wakiihuri | Kenya | 57:21 | Veronique Marot | United Kingdom | 1:06:12 |
| 1989 | Michael McLeod | United Kingdom | 58:23 | Veronique Marot | United Kingdom | 1:07:01 |
| 1988 | Steve Brace | United Kingdom | 59:17 | Francine Peeters | Belgium | 1:08:03 |
| 1987 | Dirk Vanderherten | Belgium | 57:50 | Agnes Pardaens | Belgium | 1:05:23 |
| 1986 | Dirk Vanderherten | Belgium | 58:40 | De Bruycker | Belgium | 1:08:24 |
| 1985 | Christopher Woodhouse | United Kingdom | 58:58 | Nfn van Bost | Belgium | 1:13:11 |
| 1984 | Alex Hagelsteens | Belgium | 57:15 | Denise Verhaert | Belgium | 1:08:47 |
| 1983 | Dirk Vanderherten | Belgium | 58:00 | Denise Verhaert | Belgium | 1:08:47 |
| 1982 | Frederik Vandervennet | Belgium | 1:00:00 | Daniele Justin | Belgium | 1:12:42 |
| 1981 | Frederik Vandervennet | Belgium | 59:00 | De Beyns | Belgium | 1:07:00 |
| 1980 | Werner Mory | Belgium | 1:03:00 | Magda Ilands | Belgium | 1:15.00 |