Janika Loiv and Emil Hasund win first stage of the Costa Blanca Bike Race 2023

The Costa Blanca Bike Race 2023 has once again opened the international XCM UCI calendar with a line-up of favourites at the level of the best races. The first stage has left the first surprises in the men's race, with the victory of Emil Hasund, while in the women's category, the Estonian Janika Loiv has won by a considerable margin over the rest.

Janika Loiv and Emil Hasund are the first leaders of the Costa Blanca Bike Race 2023

Starting and finishing in Calpe, the first stage of the Costa Blanca Bike Race 2023 offered a route of 50 km with almost 1900 metres in which the Norwegian Emil Hasund and the Polish Krysztof Lukasik have fought for victory in the sprint. Third was Aleksei Mendelev and Sergio Mantecón was sixth and the first Spaniard to finish.

The pair managed to break away from the group of favourites in the second half of the stage and managed a margin of almost 3 minutes with Leo Paez and George Egger, the defending champions. The Norwegian Hasund, a regular at the Costa Blanca Bike Race, won the sprint to take the first leader's jersey.

In the women's race there were no surprises and the Estonian Janika Loiv asserted her status as favourite to reach the finish line first, almost 6 minutes ahead of Rosa Van Doorn. Third place went to Spain's Monica Calderon. Janika's victory was a great debut for her new team and the first victory for the renowned KMC MTB Racing Team.

Here you can find the complete stage and overall standings.

The second stage of the Costa Blanca Bike Race will once again feature a time trial climb with a spectacular finish at the Antenas del Albir.