Wennemars back on top

The Dutchman recorded a time of 1:46.85 and then saw Olympic champion Enrico Fabris of Italy - the winner in Berlin last week - fall over half a second short in the final heat.

Veteran Claudia Pechstein returned to form by taking the women's 5000m.

The German has only managed eighth in the opening two 3000m races of the season but took victory in 7:04.96, beating compatriot Daniela Anschutz Thoms by four tenths.

Renate Groenewold, who has won both of those opening races, is not competing in the four-race event in the Russian capital which continues on Sunday.