British cyclists celebrate their win in the men's team pursuit cycling over Denmark.

Britain overpowered Denmark to win the men's team pursuit cycling Olympic gold medal on Monday (August 18), shattering their own one-day-old world record by more than two seconds.

It was Britain's fifth cycling gold on the track and sixth in all after Nicole Cooke's success on the road last week. Although they had set a world record in the first round on Sunday (August 17), Britain were clearly determined to break it.

They set off at a blistering pace which Denmark never came close to matching and the margin between the two teams grew throughout the 16-lap race as the British riders stayed focused and powered their way around the Laoshan velodrome.

Geraint Thomas, who made up the British team along with Paul Manning, Ed Clancy and Bradley Wiggins, said the credit should go to the entire squad.

(Reuters.com August 19, 2008)