The event, taking place on an Italian public holiday to celebrate Epiphany, was the third stop on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Cross Country Permit series.

Edris, winner of the Campaccio race as a teenager in 2013, completed the 10 kilometres course in 28min 54sec.

He finished a second clear of 2011 world cross country champion Merga.

Jairus Birech led the Kenyan charge in third place a further four seconds back.

The Commonwealth Games 3,000 metres steeplechase silver medal winner finished comfortably ahead of fellow Kenyan steeplechaser Conseslus Kipruto.

The reigning Olympic champion had to be content with sixth place today in 29:20.

Bahrain's Abraham Cheroben placed fourth in 28:06, two seconds ahead of fifth placed Olivier Irabaruta of Burundi.

Kenya and Ethiopia's fortunes were reversed in the 6km women's event.

In a battle between two Rio 2016 track stars, 5,000m silver medallist Obiri's extra stamina proved key as she prevailed by four seconds over Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon.

Obiri clocked 18:32 compared to Kipyegon's 18:36.

Agnes Tirop, the youngest ever senior women’s winner at the World Cross Country Championships in 30 years when she won aged 19 at Guiyang in China in 2015, completed the Kenyan cleansweep in third in 18:56.

Ethiopia's 2006 world cross country short course champion Gelete Burka placed fourth in 19:01.

The next stop on the IAAF Cross Country Permit series is due to be in Antrim on January 14.