Annika Langvad won the women's race at the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in Singen ©Getty Images

Denmark’s Olympic cross-country champion Annika Langvad won the women's title at the International Cycling Union Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in Singen today.

Langvad clinched the title in a thrilling sprint finish with Germany's Sabine Spitz.

Today's victory is the fourth time Langvad has won the world title in this event after previous victories in 2011, 2012, 2014.

Langvad just pipped Spitz, crossing the line in a time of 3 hours 06 min 50 sec.

Spitz followed just one second behind.

Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå took the bronze medal, eight seconds slower than Langvad.

Alban Lakata won the men's event ©Getty Images
Alban Lakata won the men's event ©Getty Images

In the men's race, Austria’s Alban Lakata won his third world title after previously winning in 2010 and 2015.

He also won the silver medal four times in 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Lakata was locked into a fierce battle with Portugal's Tiago Ferreira but a late burst with around one kilometre remaining saw the Austrian over the line in 3:17:25.

Ferreira took the silver medal, one second behind.

 Austria's Daniel Geismayr won his first World Championships medal with bronze in the same time as the Portuguese.