Team GB’s Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner stormed to Olympic gold with a wonderful performance in the team sprint.
The trio defeated New Zealand to claim Britain’s first cycling gold at the Rio Olympic Games, setting an Olympic record time of 42.440 seconds, just 0.102 seconds faster than the Kiwis.
Bronze went to France in 43.143.
It's #GOLD!!!!@TeamGB are Olympic team sprint CHAMPIONS!!!#Rio2016 #CyclingTrack pic.twitter.com/QChxYUS1ON
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) August 11, 2016
It is a fourth Olympic gold for Jason Kenny, a second for Philip Hindes and a first for Callum Skinner, who shone in his Olympic debut.
“It was all a bit of a surprise really," Kenny said.
"We’ve been going quite well in training so we had a rough idea of what we could do but we surpassed that in that first ride when we set that Olympic record.
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"At that point I thought we could run away with it like London but then New Zealand came back at us and set the benchmark. We just went into the final with nothing to lose.
“The team event is always the best no doubt about it. You get to win it with your mates and I remember that with Chris and Jamie in Beijing and then again in London. It’s good to share it with your mates"
It is a third straight gold for Britain in the event after victories in Beijing and London.
Women’s team pursuit set new world record
Joanna Rowsell Shand, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald delivered a sensational ride over four kilometres to set a new world record in women’s team pursuit qualifying.
The quartet put down a stunning marker of 4:13.260, just over a second faster than world champions USA, to move into the next round in style.
WORLD RECORD!!!! 4:13.260 from @TeamGB in the women's team pursuit!!!
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) August 11, 2016
Stunning!!!!#Rio2016 #CyclingTrack pic.twitter.com/cdk14hdzRB
They will now face Canada on Saturday, the prize a place in the gold-medal final.
Men’s team pursuit qualify fastest
A wonderful night for Team GB saw Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke, Ed Clancy and Owain Doull qualify fastest into round one, just missing out on a new world record.
A time of 3:51.943 was over three seconds faster than second place Denmark and sets up a clash with New Zealand on Friday.
3:51.943!!! Fastest time so far from @TeamGB in the team pursuit!
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) August 11, 2016
Remarkable!#Rio2016 #CyclingTrack pic.twitter.com/Z8dfFwT8SJ
