Team GB’s Owain Doull, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke and Ed Clancy stormed to Olympic gold in the team pursuit, breaking the world record twice on the way.
Team GB qualified fastest and their performances got stronger each time. They broke the world record in the first round, and broke it again to set a time of 3:50.265 in the final. The gold medal ride off against Australia was a closely fought battle, but the British quartet kept it together to take the Olympic title.
Owain Doull said: “It gives you such confidence having that team around you, especially as a younger athlete at my first Games. To have that calibre of experience is massive. If it was four of me I’d be bouncing off the walls. The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport and I’d love to come back and do it again.”
Matt Cosgrove, Performance Director at Welsh Cycling said: “I would like to congratulate Owain Doull on his Olympic gold medal in the team pursuit with Team GB. This is Owain’s debut at an Olympic Games, and he follows in the footsteps of Geraint Thomas in winning gold in the men’s team pursuit. Breaking the world record in the final riding with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke will be the pinnacle of his track cycling career. Seeing one of our riders achieve on the Olympic stage is a proud moment for both Wales and Welsh Cycling.”
Anne Adams-King, Chief Executive Officer at Welsh Cycling said:“On behalf of Welsh Cycling, I would like to congratulate Owain on his gold medal, alongside Sir Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke. Seeing our elite athletes perform and achieve on the Olympic stage undoubtedly inspires more young people to cycle in Wales. Owain Doull was once a young rider with ambitions of winning an Olympic gold medal, and he was able to fulfil his potential and achieve gold in Rio. Owain’s success is down to his hard work, grit and determination and we hope that his success will inspire Wales to cycle.”
