Great Britain will ride for gold against Canada in the women’s team pursuit final having qualified second fastest at the London-leg of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup.
Laura Trott, Wendy Houvenaghel and Joanna Roswell clocked 3:21.370 minutes in front of a partisan home crowd in what was the first event to be held in the London 2012 Olympic velodrome.
The trio flew out of the blocks and were inside world record pace (3:19.569) until the final laps – and Trott insists the team, who have Dani King in reserve, have more to offer in the final.
“We’ve got a few changes to make but it’s good to get into the final,” said Trott, who won the 2011 world title with Houvenaghel and King. “The track is fast and it’s a great start.”
Houvenaghel added: “It was good to get out and race on the track for the first time. We had a schedule that we managed to sort out and we rode to our full ability. Now I’m looking forward to riding in the final tomorrow.”
Great Britain will contest the top spot on the podium with the Canadian trio of Tara Whitten, Gillian Carleton and Jasmin Glaesser, who stopped the clock in a national record of 3:20.785. Australia will face the Netherlands for bronze.
Women’s team pursuit qualifying
1) Canada 3:20.785 minutes
2) Great Britain 3:21.370
3) Australia 3:21.426
4) Holland: 3:22.776
