Kramer on course for ninth world title

Despite a false start in the 500m, Kramer took the lead after a season's best time of 36.41 seconds.

And he followed that up with a time of 6:12.33 minutes in the 5000m to sit in first place ahead of Dutch teammate Patrick Roest.

Roest, the World Junior Allround Champion of 2014 and 2015, skated personal records in both the 500m and the 5000m.

And the Netherlands are on course for a clean sweep of the men's medals with Jan Blokhuijsen in third after the third best time in the 5000m.

If many expected Kramer to be leading the way then few would have chosen Miho Takagi of Japan as holding top spot after day one in the women's event.

The Japanese skater kicked things off with a personal best time of 38.15 seconds to win the 500m, and although she could only post the eighth-fastest time over 3000m she is still in top spot.

She is pursued by two Dutch skaters with Ireen Wust and Antoinette de Jong in second and third respectively.

But hot on their heels is Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic after she won the 3000m in 4:02.21 minutes. Sportsbeat 2017