Great Britain’s men’s pursuit team had to settle for silver after they failed to rein in Australia’s world record-breaking team in today’s final.
Comprising Rob Hayles, Paul Manning, Bradley Wiggins and Steve Cummings, Great Britain’s team found themselves trailing after the opening lap and Australia were never headed.
The British team had qualified for the gold/silver final with their first ever sub-four minute mark, but the Australians had gone one better by beating their own world record to reach the final.
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One day after setting a world record in qualifying, the Australians looked just as smooth and finished only one second outside the mark of 3 minutes 56.610 seconds the four riders set late yesterday.
Australia has taken three cycling titles in Athens so far.
It was the fifth Olympic medal for Australia’s Brad McGee but his first gold in a career spanning three Games.
Wiggins admitted the British quartet had no answer to the all-conquering Aussies.
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He said: “The Australian team are the best team there has ever been.
“When there’s teams like them up against you there is not a lot you can do.”
Wiggins added silver to his individual pursuit gold.
Hayles, who was in the team which won bronze in the event four years ago, said: “It’s good to be back but I’m starting to get sick of hearing the other finishing gun go off. But it’s a silver medal to add to my bronze.”
Australia’s team of Graeme Brown, Brett Lancaster, McGee and Luke Roberts took a lightning fast start and already led by a second after 1 kilometre and further built it up to 2.2 halfway through the race.
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By the time Brown peeled off in the final stages it was too late for Britain to come back and the British finished 3.527 seconds behind the Australians.
In the bronze-medal race Germany took the fastest start but Spain got back into the race and the lead changed several times before the Spanish made the difference late in the race to win in 4:05.523.
The Germans, who won gold in Sydney, were 1.670 seconds slower.