Spain's double European 20km Walk champion, Francisco Fernandez, emerged victorious in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Shenzen, China today in hot humid conditions.

The 30-year-old Spaniard, hung back in the big pack in the early stages, as Olympic Champion, Ivano Brugnetti (ITA) stretched into an early lead before coming unstuck in the latter stages of the race. 

Fernandez became embroiled in a head to head battle with Li Gaobo for much of the race before making the telling break after 15km to win in a world class time of 1.18.51, 13 seconds ahead of the Chinese athlete.

 "I am very happy with this win" said Fernandez afterwards. "The conditions were a little difficult but it has been a good experience to come out here and win, one year from my main goal in Beijing" he added. 

Ireland's Robert Heffernan was next home of the Europeans in just under 1.22.00. 

Results:

IAAF Race Walking Challenge, Shenzen, China

Men, 20km Walk 

1    Francisco Fernández (ESP) - 1.18.51
2    Li Gaobo (CHN) - 1.19.03
3    Eder Sánchez (MEX) - 1.20.08
4    Miao Yanxi (CHN) - 1.20.16
5    Luke Adams (AUS) - 1.20.30
6    Jefferson Perez (ECU) - 1.21.14
7    Jared Tallent (AUS) - 1.21.25
8    Wei Yang (CHN) - 1.21.26
9    Ceng Cruaqiang (CHN) - 1.21.36
10    Kim Jyun-Sup (KOR) - 1.21.37
11    Robert Heffernan (IRL)- 1.21.52
12    Ilya Markov (RUS) - 1.21.55
26    Ivano Brugnetti (ITA) - 1.24.26