Few would have picked Alina Lysenko as a contender for the women’s sprint competition at the UCI Track Champions League; but she sits at the top of the star-studded standings after two rounds.

The Russian rider, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, won both events in decisive fashion on Friday evening in Apeldoorn.

She surged past a revived Ellesse Andrews in the final of the individual sprint, winning by almost a length.

And in a keirin final which notably lacked series leader Emma Finucane, Lysenko attacked from the back of the line with a lap and a half remaining, again passing Andrews in the final few metres.

On the men’s side, the home crowd was denied a showdown between Harrie Lavreysen and Matthew Richardson. The Australian British rider failed to make the sprint final, too busy engaging in a semi-final track-stand stand-off with Leigh Hoffman, and missing an early attack by Nicholas Paul.

Richo wasn’t taking any chances in his keirin semi, powering to the front with just over a lap remaining, and winning by almost three bike-lengths.

But he was never in contention in the final, starting at the back, and never seeing the front. Colombia’s Cristian Ortega came over the top of Lavreysen to take the win, with Nicholas Paul finishing strongly for third.

Lavreysen’s win over Paul in the sprint final, and his second place in keirin, was enough to put him top of the men’s league going into Saturday’s second session of the Dutch double-header. Check the listings: it’s earlier than you are probably expecting.