It was a busy weekend for pole vaulting, both in France and for a Frenchman more than 5,000 miles away from home.

He is Swiss, he is the defending European marathon champion and he is counting down to the final race of his career.

It always had the prospects of being a year to remember for the men's high jump on the back of the brilliant achievements of Bohdan Bondarenko last summer, but few people could have expected the standard to be set just a few days into 2014.

Some of Europe’s best will compete on 31 January in the jubilee 10th edition of the Pedro’s Cup in Bydgoszcz, Poland, a European Athletics Indoor Permit Meeting with five events scheduled.

The European Champion Clubs Cup Track & Field Seniors group A will take place once again in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, and group B will be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The 51st edition of the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country will be held in Albufeira, Portugal, on Sunday 2 February 2014.