The Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel won the men's cross-country short track event as action began today at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets in France ©Getty Images

Mathieu van der Poel and Kate Courtney won the men's and women's cross-country short track events, respectively, as action began today at the International Cycling Union Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets in France.

Dutchman van der Poel triumphed in a time of 21.51sec with Brazil's Henrique Avancini a second behind and home favourite Victor Koretzky two seconds off the pace in third.

Switzerland's Nino Schurter just missed out on a podium place in fourth.

In the women's event, American Courtney prevailed in 19.30.

France's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot edged Germany's Elisabeth Brandau and Switzerland's Jolanda Neff for second place with all three finishing seven seconds behind. 

Action in Les Gets is due to continue tomorrow.

The downhill finals are scheduled to take place. 

They will be followed by the cross-country finals on Sunday (July 14).