Jaouad Gharib of Morocco outsprinted Spanish rival Julio Rey in a dramatic finish to the marathon at the Stade de France.

Gharib won what had developed into a two-horse race in a championship record time of two hours 8 minutes and 31 seconds.

The pair broke clear of the pack after 35 kilometres and Gharib, running only his second marathon, had to bear the brunt of the pace-making.

Rey, last year's European Championships bronze-medallist, finished seven seconds behind the Moroccan with Italian Stefano Baldini third in 2:09:14.