The first day at the National Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines was exciting, with the gold medals shared between the Netherlands and China, two for each country.Tristan Bangma and his pilot Patrick Boswere defending their Paralympic title in the men's 4000m B individual pursuit. 

They put in a spectacular performance that thrilled the sell-out crowd, just like they did at the Olympic Games a few weeks ago. Great Britain's Stephen Bate and his pilot Christopher Latham took silver, while Italy's Lorenzo Bernard and his pilot Davide Plebani took bronze.

"It is incredible to defend our title with all our family and friends in the stands. We have a great partnership. We have been riding together for many years," added Bos. "It's always nice when we get on the bike. The pressure was high, but we delivered," said Bangma after the race.

The day started with a bang as Bate, who won silver at Tokyo 2020 and gold at Rio 2016 with pilot Adam Duggleby, set a new world record in the qualifying round with a time of 3'56"435. It was an impressive time, but the best was yet to come. It didn't last long. Bangma and Bos beat it by more than a second with a time of 3'55"396. This was more than three seconds faster than the world record they set at the UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March this year. A double celebration for the Dutch.

And just as the Dutch were celebrating, there was even more reason to cheer. Caroline Groot won the gold medal in the women's C4-C5 500m time trial. The 26-year-old took the win in a time of 35'566. This was just over the new world record she had set in the morning's qualifying session (35'390). She set a pace that was impossible for her rivals to match.

"I am very happy and satisfied with my performance. Winning the gold medal is what counts," said Groot. Marie Patouillet added to the excitement for the hosts, France, by securing a place on the podium with a silver medal (36"700). Canada's Kate O'Brien took bronze. 

Amid the Dutch spectacle, China's moment of glory came when Li Zhangyu equalled the Dutch double gold by winning the C1 3000m individual pursuit, beating compatriot Liang Weicong in the final to win his fourth Paralympic gold medal and second in the individual pursuit. Zhangyu also broke the world record in the morning heats with a time of 3:31:388. Spain's Ricardo Ten Argiles took bronze.

China's success continued with Wang Xiaomei. She made headlines by breaking the world record twice in one day on her way to gold in the women's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit. Her new world record time of 3:41:692 improved on the 3:44:660 she set earlier in the morning. A double triumph.

Great Britain's Daphne Schrager fought an exciting battle with China's Xiaomei. The Briton also set a new world record in the C2 category in the morning (3'45"133). However, she had to settle for silver in the C1-C3 final against the formidable Chinese competitor. Switzerland's Flurina Rigling took bronze. "Winning a medal in front of family and friends is an incredible achievement." Schrager said after the race.

Para cycling classes on the track

C - Cycle: conventional bike with possible adaptations

B - Tandem: for visually impaired athletes with a sighted pilot
The C group is divided into different sports classes, the lower the number, the higher the level.