GB into final with world record time (From South Wales Argus)

GB into final with world record time

5:03pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Great Britain's women cyclists set a fifth consecutive team pursuit world record to advance to the Olympic final on day three of competition at the London 2012 velodrome.

Britain stuck with the line-up of Joanna Rowsell, Dani King and Laura Trott, who had broken the world record in their last four rides - at February's Track World Cup in London, twice at April's Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne and in qualifying on Friday.

Britain required only victory in the first round of the three-woman, three-kilometre event, to advance to the gold medal ride-off, but stated their intent with a new world best of three minutes 14.682 seconds.

The trio are set to meet Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch and Jennie Reed of the United States in the final, having finished more than two seconds clear of the field.

A phenomenal turn of pace in the closing kilometre saw the USA finish in 3mins 16.853secs, overcoming a large deficit to Australia (3:16.935) in the process.

The bronze medal ride-off is set to be between Australia and Canada (3:17.454).

Jason Kenny advanced to the quarter-finals of the men's sprint in straightforward fashion..

Kenny, who won silver in China aged 20, received a first-round bye after setting an Olympic record of 9.713 seconds in qualifying fastest, giving him a favourable draw for the one-versus-one match sprints.

Kenny met South Africa's Bernard Esterhuizen in the second round and progressed serenely.

The Briton made his move from high on the banking entering the final lap and was untroubled as he powered to a victory which saw him advance to tomorrow's best-of-three quarter-finals.