Double Gold for Netherlands on Day One in Minsk

Dutch riders claimed two victories on the opening day of the TISSOT UCI Track World Cup in Minsk. Kirsten Wild was victorious in the women's points race while her compatriot Jan Willem Van Schip dominated the similar men's event.

The Minsk World Cup kicked off with the team pursuit qualification. Team KGF (Great Britain) went fastest of the men's teams overcoming two Russian teams Lokosphinx (second) and Russia national team (third). And Team USA was dominant amongst the women, quickest by over 7 seconds than second Italy.

The night session was preceded by a spectacular opening ceremony.

Then the time for the team sprint qualification has come. No one men's team managed to beat the Beat Cycling Club (Netherlands). The womens qualification saw Germany to prevail and qualify fastest for the first round.

First medals were contested in the points race. Kirsten Wild showed her class in the women's event to claim gold. The Dutch rider scored points on seven of eight intermediate sprints and gained a lap finishing first with 12 points ahead of Maria Guilia Confalonieri from Italy as Norways Anita Yvonne Stenberg took third.

In the men's race another Dutch rider led the way with Jan Willem Van Schip winning six from twelve sprints and gaining two laps to beat the closest opponent King Lok Cheung from Hong Kong by 25 points with Portugal's Ivo Oliveira finishing third but claiming overall World Cup victory in the points race.