Madison world champions Lasse Norman Hansen and Michael Morkov (open in new tab) confirmed that they are strong contenders for this week's Ghent Six after winning the 3-Days DBC race at the Ballerup Velodrome near Copenhagen.

The Danish pair, who also won gold in the Tokyo Olympic Madison, held off the challenge of New Zealand and Danish pair Aaron Gate and Matthias Malmberg in the 200-lap Madison on Saturday night. Yoeli Havik and Jan-Willem van Schip finished third.

Mark Cavendish (open in new tab) and Iljo Keisse finished fifth, four laps behind Morkov, teammates of Norman Hansen and Deceuninck Quickstep (open in new tab).

Gate and Malmberg finished 14 points ahead of Norman Hansen and Michael Morkov. Havik and van Schip finished on the same lap, but with 71 points.

The Danish pair and many of the other riders from Balelap will now head to Ghent for six days of racing on the legendary 166-meter Ghent Quipe course.

Norman Hansen and Morkov top the 12-team start list and will race in the world champion's rainbow jersey. Cavendish and local teammate Keisse will compete as part of the Wolfpack team.

The 2020 Ghent Six was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but will be held again from November 17-22. Spectators will be isolated from riders, with limited ventilation and travel between stands and track centers.