World number one Andreassen, who won a silver medal with the Danish team in the team relay yesterday, produced a pace which was impossible for his rivals to catch as he came home with a winning time of 1:13:27.

He finished 47 seconds ahead of silver medallist Maximilian Brandl of Germany with Colombia's Egan Bernal scooping the bronze after five laps of the circuit in Vallnord.

In the women's race, a time of 1:08:40 was enough for Berta who took gold ahead of Great Britain's Evie Richards and Nicole Koller of Switzerland, last year's champion.

The race was less dangerous as unlike the men, they did not have to cope with rain, and it was Richards who went on the attack immediately with a gap of 30 seconds opening up between her and Berta at one stage.

On lap two the gap declined and a crash from Richards allowed Berta to overtake and eventually claim the gold by a margin of one minute and 20 seconds.

Richards, however, recovered for a more than credible silver medal.

The Championships in Andorra continue tomorrow with the elite Men's and Women's Tirials World Championship, the U23 cross country event for both men and women and the Men's Junior Trials competition.

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