Hannes Genze of Germany and Slovakian Janka Kesegstevkova emerged as the champions of the men and women's elite categories of the Lankgkawi leg of the UCI Mountain Bike Race Marathon World Series here today.

Although feeling unwell, Genze, from Team Centurian-Vaude Racing, showed strong fighting spirit to win the racde in three hours three minutes and 10 seconds.

The 32-year-old edged fellow German Karl Platt, from Team Bulls, to the finish by just two seconds.

"In the beginning of the race I was not feeling well but later on I felt much better and that helped me to move forward. Plus I saw other riders start to get slower maybe because they felt tired due to the severe difficulties on the track.

"At one time, the rider from Slovakia slowed down because of a flat tyre so I took the opportunity to move in front and for the last 10 kilometres I rushed forward to leave behind the other riders and it paid off when I won today's race," he told reporters afterwards.

Genze added that he was looking ahead the Langkawi International Mountain Biking Challenge 2014 on Monday and hoped that he can finish among the top five.

For Kesegstevkova, from Team Outsiterz, it was her first title in the series.

The 38-year-old clocked 3:53:50s to win the title, finishing ahead of a Thai and Malaysian rider.

"This is my first victory in UCI and everything is perfect...This victory is wonderful.. I never thought that I can win today's race because it's pretty hard with the course and weather in Langkawi. First it was sunny and all off sudden came a downpour.

"From the dry to muddy surface it's hard to maintain and it also hard to keep the bike in good condition but maybe it's my day. But in my opinion everyone who finished today race is a winner because of the difficulties that we faced," she said, adding that she was looking forward to the LIMBC next.

Today's stretching 75km around Langkawi island had its start and finish in Taman Lagenda.

The next of the series will be in Villabassa (Italy), Sietterstrand (Denmark), Ucka (Croatia), Graz (Austria), Verbier (Switzerland), Jurmala (Latvia), Val Di Fassa (Italy), Obwalden (Switzerland), Ornans (France), Frejus
(France ) and Punchuncavi (Chile).

RESULTS:

Men's elite: (75km)

1. Hannes Genze (GER) Centurian-Vaude Racing Team 3:03:10s
2. Karl Platt (GER) Bulls Team 3:05:11s
3. Michal Lami (SVK) Slovakia National Team 3:15:32s


Women's elite: (75km)

1. Janka Kesegstevkova (SVK) Outsiterz Team 3:53:50s
2. Supuksorn Nuntana (THA) Endurance Thailand Team 4:08:57s
3. Siti Aisyah Alias (MAS) Pahang State Team 4:15:20s