Wiggins leads GB to track world record, China win gold

Great Britain's men claimed a world record double inside the Olympic Velodrome on Friday, as they stormed to a famous gold in the men's team pursuit.

The British quartet of Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Owain Doull and Bradley Wiggins clocked a time of  three minutes, 50.570 seconds in qualifying for the final by ousting New Zealand.

And it was world champions Australia who succumbed in the decider, as the British smashed their own landmark to post 3:50.265.

Denmark edged the bronze race against New Zealand, while China were the queens of the women's team sprint - again in record time.

Jinjie Gong and Tianshi Zhong laid down their credentials for a first-ever Chinese cycling gold by posting a new Olympic benchmark in qualifying and then bettered that with a world record of 31.928sec in the heats.

Russia were no match in the final and had to settle for silver, while Germany narrowly fended off Australia - including the great Anna Meares - for bronze.

HIGHLIGHT

After topping the cycling medal table at London 2012, much was expected of Great Britain at this Games, and none more so than Bradley Wiggins.

The track icon and former Tour de France winner on the road duly delivered as he became his country's most decorated Olympian on a night of high drama, securing his eighth medal - and his fifth gold - as he prepares to bow out of the sport at the end of 2016.

RECORD-BREAKERS

While the world records from Great Britain, twice, and China headlined the day, there was a sign of what may be to come in the men's sprint as an Olympic target was also toppled.

Jason Kenny broke the Olympic record in qualifying for the final, the Team GB athlete recording a time of 9.551sec on his way to blasting through the preliminary stage.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

"I wanted to go out on top, and it was one of the best finals ever. Hats off to the Australians" - Wiggins reflects on what will be his last - and possibly his best - Olympic triumph, having previously announced he will retire at the end of 2016.

"This is an historic medal. It is the first time. We have worked so hard for this. We are like old warriors who have kept fighting. This medal is not just for the two of us, because there are many people behind us who have worked very hard" - Gong illustrates the importance of China's first track cycling gold medal.