European Athletics (EA) – News – Farah is seeking more capital gains

Just five weeks after running half the race at the London marathon Mo Farah is returning to the English capital – this time to defend a title.

Farah, the double Olympic champion and European champion, will chase a fifth successive win in the Bupa London 10,000 road race on Monday 27 May.

The day is a Bank Holiday in Britain, which means Farah should have great support on the streets of the capital as the major name in a good, domestic field.

It is the sixth staging of the race and Farah has shown his speed and ability on the roads by winning all but the first one.

And his victories have come in style too.

He broke the British record both in 2009 and 2010, his latter triumph coming in 27:44 which remains the course record.

He was a bit slower last year, winning in 29:21, but he was saving his best for later in the summer.

The following month he was in total control in Helsinki at the European Athletics Championships when he retained his 5000m crown and then in August, won the 10,000m and 5000m at the Olympic Games in London.

This 10km road race will be a good base for the weeks ahead, which will see Farah being at the forefront of Britain's bid for glory in the European Athletics Team Championships in Gateshead on June 22-22 before, in August, he will defend his world title in Moscow.

At last month's marathon, Farah stopped at halfway, as planned, as he tested himself out ahead of his debut over these 26.2 miles on the same course next year.

British teammate Scott Overall, who was second behind Farah in 29:26 12 months ago in this race, is back to challenge him again. He has a 10km personal best of 28:49, so he could prove a big threat.

But no doubt Farah will be aiming to follow the mantra of what he said when he triumphed in this race in 2012: "I wanted to keep my winning streak going on this course. Racing is what I train for so it's great to come here and win again."

In the women's event, it will be another chance for Steph Twell to gauge the extent of her comeback.

A triple gold medallist at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, Twell missed the Olympics in London because of a foot injury, and it will be some 24 hours for her because the day before she competes in the Westminster Mile.

British international Amy Whitehead, who was 13th in the London Marathon last month, leads the women's field in the 10,000 where she is also making her debut.

European Athletics (EA) – News