Jinjie Gong and Tianshi Zhong laid down their credentials for a first-ever Chinese cycling gold by posting a new Olympic benchmark in qualifying and then bettered that with a world record of 31.928sec in the heats.
Advertisement
He combined with Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and Steven Burke to complete the 4km race in three minutes 50.265 seconds to beat Australia by nearly a second.
The victory for Wiggins saw him become Britain’s most successful ever Olympian with eight medals, five of which are gold.
That added to the two rowing golds won earlier in the day. But this Olympics was really his last hurrah. He’s just a nice guy, he’s fun.
The triumph ensured Britain took men’s team pursuit gold for the third Games in succession, with Clancy having been part of all three teams.
“I never considered that I’ll be up there with them, that’s never driven me, I’ve never thought about it”.
“He wants to come back”, Wiggins said. “I realised what it took and never underestimated it for one minute”.
They held it together, just, to win by 0.743 seconds.
Bradley Wiggins has led Britain to track cycling team pursuit gold in a thrilling Olympic final against Australia, becoming the country’s most decorated Olympian in the process.
Denmark easily beat New Zealand to earn bronze.
So powerful was his surge that Wiggins distanced Doull.
Wiggins and his teammates were so spent by the effort they hardly raised a fist to celebrate, instead coasting around the velodrome to adoring cheers. But at the same time, I understand more than anyone that there are two sides to every story.
“That was different for everyone”.
Here’s what you might have missed on a hectic day for Great Britain. It’s gone now. I’ve been Olympic champion for 12 years.
“Chris has got six, so I haven’t surpassed Chris”. I didn’t want to have to listen to the TV commentary of Garry Herbert and Cracknell.
“I wanted to go out with this, I wanted it to end like this and not some crappy little race in the north of France, Paris- Tour in the rain”, referring to a road race which starts outside Paris. “Simply put, if my daughter wanted to get into it, I wouldn’t have any problem with her going into British Cycling and getting the same treatment (as) if my son went into the lads’ academy”.
“My first memory as a child is being there with my dad when he was racing it and the place hasn’t changed”.
Cavendish, who is chasing a first Olympic medal, knew the team pursuit represented a surer chance of success than the six-discipline omnium, for which he has been selected and which begins on Sunday.
After helping Britain win the team sprint Thursday, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner squeaked past their opponents in the opening round of the individual sprint competition Friday night. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
After topping the cycling medal table at London 2012, much was expected of Great Britain at this Games, and none more so than Bradley Wiggins.
“As we’re guessing you’re probably gonna be drunk by the time you read this, and a few of you have already come into our room accidentally – just a friendly reminder that THIS IS NOT YOUR ROOM”. I spoke to him before the final.
Wiggins paid tribute to his team-mates and was grateful for the motivation which came from the rivalry with Australia.
Kenny won gold at London 2012 after winning a selection battle with Sir Chris Hoy, but the event has been expanded, with two riders per nation permitted.
“I’m staying, I think till Monday”, Wiggins said.
“I’m happy, I’m content with what I’ve done”.
Advertisement
“I’m not doing Tokyo. I love cycling”, he added.
