The empire strikes back: track world’s day 2 pictorial

Great Britain made history on the second day of the track cycling world championships by scooping all the available gold medals. 

The biggest story was in the team pursuit, where the hosts set a new world record of 3:56.322 in the final to beat fastest qualifiers Denmark for the gold medal. Previous world record holders Australia had to settle for bronze, defeating New Zealand in their ride off.

In the women’s 3000m individual pursuit, British ex-Olympic rower Rebecca Romero defeated reigning world champion Sarah Hammer (USA) in the final. Romero had already set the fastest time in qualifying with 3:29.59, and never looked like losing in the final. Britain’s Wendy Houvenaghel rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.

The British women were on fire again in the team sprint, where Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade took gold ahead of China and Germany. The pair qualified fastest in 33.186 and although they were half a second off this in the final, they still had half a second to spare over China.

In the men’s sprint, it was France setting the pace in qualifying with Kévin Sireau, Gregory Bauge and Mickaël Bourgain scoring the top three positions in the flying 200m time trial. Britain’s Chris Hoy qualified fourth. Things changed a little after the opening rounds were run, as Sireau, Bourgain, Hoy and Italy’s Roberto Chiappa all made it through to the semi-finals, which will be held tomorrow.

Stephen McMahon was in Manchester to record the action.

Tara Whitten (Canada) in action during the qualifying rounds of the women’s individual pursuit

Colombian rider Maria Luisa Calle Williams sporting a very distinctive aero helmet

Another particularly cheezy design of helment was worn by Karin Thürig (Switzerland)

Katie Mactier (Australia) accelerates on to her first lap in qualifying for the women’s pursuit

Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) at full speed

Rebecca Romero (Great Britain) salutes the crowd after her victory in the women’s pursuit

Roberto Chiappa was kept under close observation in his sprint qualifying heat

The British men’s pursuit team were ecstatic at winning & setting a new world record

Dana Glöss & Miriam Welte (Germany) in pursuit of a place on the podium of the women’s team sprint

Great Britain’s Rebecca Romero took gold in the women’s individual pursuit

Shanaze Reade & Victoria Pendleton added to the medal haul with victory in the women’s team sprint

Ryan Bayley (Australia) and Theo Bos (Netherlands) after their battle in sprint qualifying

Chris Hoy (Great Britain) overcame Theo Bos (Netherlands) in a very closely fought duel

There were several paracycling events included on the evening programme

R. White in action as part of the paracycling component to the evening programme