Wet conditions made things difficult for competitors but the schedule got underway as planned with Alex Cujavante taking the men's 20,000 metres elimination title in the first race of the day.

In what turned into a battle between Colombian and French skaters, it was Cujavante who surprised the field, in particular his team-mate Juan Sebastian Sanz who was forced to settle for silver.

Ewen Fernandez of France did enough for the bronze medal.

The South American country won a second gold medal in the one lap circuit event for junior men, as Jaime Uribe backed up the title he won last year in Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

He got the better of two French rivals, with Thomas Dambrun and Valentin Thiebault claiming the silver and bronze medals respectively.

A third Colombian gold came in the 5,000m women's junior relay, with the country beating Italy into silver and Chile into bronze after dictating the pace of the race.

The 5,000m relay for senior men was won by France ahead of Italy and Germany, with the Germans then winning the women's event after overtaking the Italians, who had led from the start, on the final lap.

The Italians had to settle for silver with hosts China taking bronze.

There was gold for Italy in the 5,000m relay for junior men, however, as they beat the United States into second place and Colombia into the bronze.

American Franchesca Bell won the one lap circuit race for junior women ahead of a pair of Italians.

Giulia Bonechi did enough for silver, with the bronze medal going to Bormida Giorgia. 

The event concludes with the marathon finals for senior men and women tomorrow.