While Kramer was the pre-competition favourite, there could be a shock on the cards in the women's event as Miho Takagi of Japan ended at the summit of the leaderboard.

Kramer, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, started badly with a false start in the 500 metres race, but recovered to clock a commanding time of 36.41sec.

The 30-year-old then raced home in first position in the 5,000m as he finished in 6 min 12.33sec to ensure he went into the second and final day of competition at the Vikingsipet as the one to beat.

Kramer was not able to win the 500m, however, as that particular honour went to Japan's Shota Nakamura as he clocked 36.00.

Poland's Konrad Niedzwiedzki and Norway’s Sindre Henriksen finished second and third, with Kramer down in eighth.

Nakamura was not able to build on his superb display as he struggled in the 5,000m, where the fierce Dutch competitor came into his own.

Kramer claimed a comfortable win as he led a Dutch one-two-three, crossing the line ahead of compatriots Patrick Roest and Jan Blokhuijsen, second and third respectively.

The Dutchman has a total of 73.643 points at the summit of the standings, followed by Roest and then Blokhuijsen.

In the women's event, Takagi won the 500m in 38.15.

The Japanese, bronze in the 1,500m and the Mass Start at this year’s World Single Distance Championships, beat Dutchwoman Ireen Wüst and Ida Njåtun of Norway to take a surprise advantage.

Takagi kept hold of her lead in the 3,000m despite finishing in sixth place in a race won by Olympic champion Martina Sáblíková of the Czech Republic.

Sáblíková clocked 4:02.71 to earn victory, with Wüst second and Antoinette de Jong of The Netherlands third.

Takagi has 79.236 points in the general classification and is currently in front of Wüst, the four-time Olympic champion.

De Jong is also in contention going into the final day, where the event will conclude with the women's 1,500m and 5,000m races and men's 1,500m and 10,000m competitions.