Britain bested by familiar foes Australia and have to content themselves with silver

Great Britain's Jonathan Dibben (left) leads the team in the Final of the Men's Team Pursuit.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Andy Tennant, Owain Doull and Yorkshire’s Ed Clancy finished in 3 mins 53.856 secs as Australia’s Sam Welsford, Michael Hepburn, Callum Scotson and Miles Scotson won in 3:52.727. Denmark took bronze.

Britain had trailed for much of the four kilometres, but with two laps of the 16 remaining took the lead, only to unravel in the closing stages.

Clancy had back surgery last year and is still recovering, meaning Britain have more to give as they look for a third straight Olympic title in Rio this summer.

Earlier, Laura Trott won Britain’s first gold of the competition in the women’s scratch race and Becky James claimed bronze in the women’s Keirin.

Two-time Olympic champion Trott put the disappointment of fifth-place in team pursuit qualifying behind her to win the non-Olympic discipline.

Trott finished ahead of Kirsten Wild of Holland and Canada’s Stephanie Roorda.

It was Trott’s sixth world title and second individual honour. Her only prior individual win was in the omnium at the 2012 World Championships in Melbourne.