British quartet live up to expectations with gold

After the women’s team pursuit squad won gold on day one and Sir Chris Hoy took the Keirin title on day two, Britain claimed a third gold medal on the final day of the competition.

There was much expected of Wiggins – competing in his first team pursuit since taking the Olympic title in a world record in Beijing in August 2008 – Geraint Thomas, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke in the four-man, four-kilometre event.

The quartet did not disappoint, clocking three minutes 55.438 seconds to take gold. New Zealand finished second in 4mins 00.314secs.

It was Britain’s third medal of the day after men’s team sprint bronze for Jason Kenny, Sir Chris and Matt Crampton and Keirin bronze for Victoria Pendleton – and ninth medal of the competition.

Britain, the world record holders in 3:53.314, had clocked 3:57.471 in advancing to the final as fastest qualifiers and put in a supreme display to take victory by almost five seconds.

Third place went to Spain, with Denmark fourth.

Sir Chris’s Midas touch had returned at last on Saturday as he avoided a major crash to take Track World Cup Keirin gold.

Four-time Olympic champion Hoy, who was third in the opening day’s sprint, claimed the 31st World Cup title of his distinguished career in the motor-paced event.

However, Olympic and world champion Victoria Pendleton had to settle for bronze in the women’s sprint.