Litscher and Cink win first stage in Andalucia

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Thomas Litscher and Ondrej Cink (Multivan Merida) won the first stage of the Andalucia Bike Race, crossing the line ahead of their teammates Jose Hermida and Rudi Van Houts and the Topeak Ergon duo of Alban Lakata and Robert Mennen

Upon finishing, Litscher said, "I had a really good time during the stage and enjoyed the good weather while working together with my Multivan Merida teammates."

In his first participation in the Andalucía Bike Race, Lakata said, "If all the stages are like today's, I am really looking forward to riding the next ones!"

Alejandro Díaz de la Peña and Pedro Romero were the first Spanish duo to finish, in fifth place.

Women

2012 race winners Sally Bigham and Milena Landtwing finished in the first place among the women, even after Bigham fell near the end of the stage and will require stitches in her right leg. Both she and Landtwing said that nonetheless, they are both motivated to start on Monday morning.

Sandra Santanyes and Marga Fullana showed their potential with a second place stage finish, while the third place went to Norwegians Borghild Lovset and Heidi Rosasen.

Other categories

2011 and 2012 marathon world champion Annika Langvad clinched the victory together with her teammate Thomas Bonne in the mixed category. Pablo Egeda and Tomás Misser toped the Masters 30+ category and British Anthony White and Richard Rothwell topped the Masters 40+ category.

Tomorrow's stage 2 will start from Cordoba's Deputy building and cover 71 kilometers.