PARIS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Australia will race off against Britain for the Olympic cycling track men's team pursuit in Wednesday's final at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome, after setting a new world record of 3 minutes, 40.73 seconds.
Australia was the fastest team in Monday's qualifying round and maintained its form to finish well ahead of Italy's team, which contains sprinter Filippo Ganna.
Italy had come to Paris as reigning champion and world record holder, with a time of 3:42.032.
Britain's quartet of Ethan Hayter, Oliver Wood, Daniel Bigham and Ethan Vernon looked to be struggling in their heat against reigning world champion Denmark, as they trailed by 0.679 seconds midway through the 16 250-meter laps of the 4-kilometer race and 0.685 seconds with just a thousand meters to ride.
However, they made up well over a second in the last four circuits of a thrilling race to finish in 3.42.151, with the Danes on 3.43.803.
Team GB have happy memories of this velodrome, having won the 2022 World Championships on the outskirts of Paris, but will need something very special to beat Australia.
