Rasmussen/ Mørkøv hit out hard on first night

The home town team wearing the lucky number 7 of the race favourites, Danes  Michael Mørkøv and Alex Rasmussen, took the early lead in the Copenhagen Six Day on the first night.

Seeking to defend their title at the Ballerup Super Arena is an extra added pressure, but the reigning Madison World Champions handled it with aplomb as they powered to a one-lap advantage over all but the Dutch team of Danny Stam and Peter Schep.

The first Madison was contested at a blistering pace, with the major favourites all present on the lead lap. The sprint was won in a convincing fashion by Mørkøv over Swiss legend Bruno Risi.

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The Danes then went about racking up points in the minor events, netting minor placings before clocking the fastest flying lap of the night at 13.038 seconds.

Risi and partner Franco Marvulli were also busy padding their points tally with a few sprint wins and taking a derny race, but on the night's final Madison, the Swiss pair missed the break and the Danes, the Dutch pair and three other teams took a lap, leaving Risi and Marvulli down a lap in the overall standings.

Mørkøv and Rasmussen aren't counting the Swiss out yet, as five nights of feverish racing are to come.

"The atmosphere in Copenhagen was ecstatic tonight and the support was extremely motivating. The race started out in a very tough opening but we were in control of the situation which we made clear to our rivals and that was important to us. Although the Swiss are one lap behind, I still consider them as our biggest rivals before Tuesday's finale.

"Bruno Risi has over the past several years been the best six-day race cyclist and I have the feeling he intends to end his career at the very top,”  said Mørkøv.