Barker wins scratch gold, flying Dutchmen retain sprint

Cycling - 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships - Pruszkow, Poland - February 27, 2019 Great Britain's Elinor Barker celebrates winning the Women's Scratch Race Final REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

PRUSZKOW, Poland (Reuters) - Britain's Elinor Barker claimed the opening gold medal of the track cycling world championships on Wednesday as she held off defending champion Kirsten Wild to win the 10km scratch race.

The Dutch men then proved in a class of their own as they defended their team sprint title, leaving France trailing by almost a full second in the gold medal race.