• Track World Championships

Team Pursuit gold and world record for Team GB

Ben Swift timed his run to perfection to take gold in the Scratch © Getty Images

Enlarge

Ed Clancy, Pete Kennaugh, Geraint Thomas and Steven Burke - in for Andy Tennant - secured gold for Great Britain in the Men's Team Pursuit in a world-record time at the Track Cycling World Championships at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.

The British quartet, who powered into the final with the third-fastest time in history, proved the effort was no fluke as they set a world record of 3:53.295 seconds to beat big rivals Australia.

In what is an Olympic year, it was a huge statement of intent as they won the psychological battle with their likely rivals for gold in London.

Team GB came out sharply and edged ahead at the first kilometre, but they were pegged back by the Australians who were in front at the 2km mark.

But the British quartet did not panic and slowly reeled in their opponents before taking control of the race, silencing the crowd in the process, in the final two laps to take gold.

"It was disappointing to lose to the Aussie guys back home in London six weeks ago," Clancy said. "We made a few changes and we were lucky enough to have five good riders and be able to swap a rider for the final. It is good news for us. The most important thing is we are in the ball park for the big one in August.

"That record has been around long enough. We've had a few chances to take it down. It is a good place to do it."

Ben Swift produced a brilliant ride to claim gold in the Scratch race. The British rider timed his finish in the 15km event to perfection, as he tracked down the breakaway with a lap to run and had enough in the tank to hold off Nolan Hoffman.

There was disappointment for Jessica Varnish and Victoria Pendleton as they had to settle for fourth in the Women's Team Sprint. They were beaten by big rivals, Australian pair Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch in qualifying and were eclipsed by China in the bronze medal race.

Meares and McCulloch were shocked in the final, as Germany pair of Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel posted a new world record of 32.630.

The GB Men's Sprint team also suffered disappointment, as they were beaten in their qualification race and then denied the chance to race for bronze on account of a suspect change between Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny who switched places too soon. In the final, Australia claimed gold to the delight of the home crowd.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.