Belgrade Race through History

The 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia did not prevent the race from taking place that year,[3] even though three months of bombardment had damaged power plants, water supplies, and industrial and residential areas throughout the city.

[4] The date was changed to October and it was the first major international sporting event to be held in Belgrade following the Kosovo War.

The course, which follows a switchback-style path, does not allow for a large number of runners and throughout its history no more than thirty athletes have taken part in each competition.

Paul Tergat, the former Marathon world record holder and two-time Olympic silver medallist, competed at all four races in the 1990s and was the guest of honour at the reopening in 2009.

Boniface Kirui won the race's comeback event in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, with second-placed Joseph Kiptoo Birech finishing with the same time.