Danish riders Justesen, Langvad win in Lanzarote

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On day one, the top seven men crossed the line within one minute and 17 seconds of each other, leaving the door open as to what would be the outcome after the next and final day of racing.

Racers faced wet and muddy conditions during day one of the Club la Santa two-day mountain bike stage race on Lanzarote.

"It rained in the beginning and I felt like I was at home," said Brit Sally Bigham.

Benjamin Justesen, the winner of the race here in 2009, led from the start. He raced ahead of everyone else, on his own, and rode solo to the victory.

Behind him, about half a minute back, German Christian Kreuchler followed him for almost all the course, but was overtaken in the end by a group of three riders including Dane Rasmus Jessing (T-Bike), Spaniard Ismael Ventura (Bici Esteve) and another Danish T-Bike team racer Casper Saltoft.

In the women's race, last year's winner Annika Langvad from Denmark, also established a clear lead from the start and held it until the finish. She seemed to have no competition from the other women. Six minutes later, runner-up Bigham (Topeak Ergon) crossed the finish line. Norwegian former world champion Gunn Rita Dahle (Multivan Merida) finished third another five and a half minutes back.

Langvad said many of the men gained time on her on the sections of the course with strong winds. Being lighter than the men, she could not keep the same speed as them.

180 racers took to the start.

Forecasts for Sunday's 60km stage two are "no wind, no rain".

Full Results for stage 1 and GC