Robert Gerritsen (no proofreading) | Video: Gijs Takken - With just a week to go another mass start in the 43rd edition Amsterdam Waterland Marathon will commence. The international reputation of this classic race is growing,  122 athletes from more than 10 countries will be taking part in the marathon part of the ICF Classic Series.

The Amsterdam Waterland Marathon is famous for its technical and challenging course through Amsterdam’s meadows and wetlands, or as former winner and multiple World Marathon Champion Manuel Busto called it "the Safari in Amsterdam".

It's a tough call to predict the outcome of the mens race, the strong Spanish athletes Emilio Merchan and David Santos Cuadrado will be present again. As well as some top athletes from the under 23 category. The Italians, Swedes, Czech and British national teams will do all they can to put them to the test.

The outsiders posing a danger to the national teams are the Belgian athlete Dries Corrijn, Dutchman Joep van Bakel or German Marvin Frick. Dries Corrijn has showcased his strength in his two latest marathons by taking a win and near-win in the marathons of Eindhoven and Gent. Dutchman Joep van Bakel knows what it takes to win the Waterland Marathon as he won the 41st edition only 2 years ago. German paddler Marvin Frick finished in an 11th place in the latest World Championships, he will be keen to show his progress in this field of top paddlers.

One dangerous underdog remains, local Bram Brandjes who finished 7th in the 500 meter sprint World Championships. Although he specializes in another discipline of sprint kayaking his speed and local knowledge of the technical and challenging race course might turn out enough to knock out some of the top paddlers.

In the women’s senior race it seems like last year’s winner and vice-world champion Lizzie Broughton will be the one to beat. As she and her mix k2 partner Keith Moule,  have both set the record in the Waterside race and won the Devisez to Westminster race. The winning spirit is certainly with her!

It will be a big challenge for the Swedish Emma Andersson, winner of the 41st edition, to keep Lizzie out of the highest rank. Her advantage however is that she will be taking along her Swedish teammate just like the Spanish Sheila Saez Barrios and Aura Tazon Cubillas. Will their tactical advantages be enough to beat the strong Lizzie?

Are you as curious about the race as we are? The results and other updates will be posted on the website, facebook page and Twitter:

• Website: http://amsterdamcanoemarathon.com/english/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KvViking
• FB Event page: www.facebook.com/events/769289899795288/
• FB page: www.facebook.com/pages/Kanovereniging-Viking