Gold For GB Cyclists In Men’s Team Sprint

The new record beat the 42.600 Britain set when winning gold in the 2012 London games, though was later bested by New Zealand in the first round, finishing in 42.535 seconds.

Australia’s trio of Matthew Glaetzer, Patrick Constable and Nathan Hart raced directly up against their greatest rivals in the qualifying session, but were nowhere near matching the top pace.

It came after GB’s Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner set a Games record in the men’s team sprint.

New Zealand’s Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins, the world champions, had to settle for silver in 42.542secs, just 0.102 behind.

And they started strongly in the early part of day one in Rio’s Olympic Velodrome. France is the most successful nation on the Olympic track.

Skinner, 24, stuck to Kenny’s wheel heroically and then brought home the bullion, leaving Hoy to gasp: “That was unbelievable – I know what it’s like to be in Callum’s position and he dealt with it in great fashion”.

The heroic three-man team, led by the experienced Kenny, swept aside Venezuela in Heat 4 on their way to the final which meant their destiny would be decided against New Zealand.