Women’s team pursuit
Women’s team pursuit
If silver for the men was a triumph and mark of progress, silver for their female counterparts was anything but.
Ending a winning streak which stretched back more than four years, Australia not only beat the British quartet but smashed their world record too.
Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Laura Trott and Jo Rowsell had to settle instead for silver, a well-timed wake-up call perhaps that gold in Rio is by no means a formality.
Having qualified second, the Brits posted went sub 4’17” to beat Canada and book their place in the final against the Aussies.
There, however, Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure and Melissa Hoskins never looked back as they stormed to a massive win and new world record.
That they are disappointed with silver, however – ‘gutted’ to quote Laura Trott – is a mark of just how good the team has been in recent years, however.
Dani King’s decision to focus on the road means the quartet in action in Paris looks favourite to be the quartet selected for Rio.
And with the Australians having thrown down the gauntlet, the hard work starts now as far as wresting back the initiative in the next 18 months goes.
It is better, after all, to finally be beaten now with time to improve than for their incredible run to end just months from the start of the Games.
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