Intro:

Russia made a clean sweep of the Team honours at the 25th IAAF Race Walking World Cup on home soil in Saransk, Mordovia, over the weekend.

Although China's 20 year-old prospect Zhen Wang took the gold medal in Saturday's 20 kilometre men's event, ahead of home athletes Andrey Krivov and Vladimir Kanaykin, it was a Russian 1-2 over 50 kilometres on Sunday, Sergey Kirdyapkin edging out compatriot Igor Erokhin, with Australia's Jared Tallent taking bronze. 

And over the women's 20K, Elena Lashmanova upset World and Olympic champion Olga Kaniskina in another Russian 1-2, with Maria Jose Poves of Spain picking up the bronze.

Script:

The capital of Mordovia, Saransk, was the venue for the 25th IAAF Race Walking World Cup over the weekend, one of the final chances to compete before this summer's Olympics.

Saturday saw the men's 20 kilometre event take place and 20 year-old Chinese athlete Zhen Wang took the initiative, with a strong Russian contingent having to hang on in his wake.

Zen took the gold by 14 seconds, Krivov was second with Vladimir Kanaykin in third.

In the men's 50 kilometres, it all came down to the last 20 metres after more than three and a half hours of gruelling action in the sun.

Just when Igor Erokhin thought he had nailed down his first major title his teammate Sergey Kirdyapkin sprinted to steal the win by just two seconds.

Australia's Jared Tallent took the bronze.

Russia collected their second gold of the day in the women's 20 kilometres - but it came from an unexpected source.

Elena Lashmanova finishing almost ahead of Olympic and World champion Olga Kaniskina.

Spain's Maria Jose Poves picked up the bronze.

Unsurprisingly, Russia swept the team events gold medals, a strong lead up to the London Olympics. But the Chinese are also likely to have their say.