Mark Cavendish produces outstanding ride to place second in omnium individual pursuit

Mark Cavendish set the fastest time so far in the individual pursuit in the men's omnium... until Denmark's Lasse Norman Hansen set a new Olympic Record

(Image credit: Watson)

The standings in the omnium were shaken up by the 4km individual pursuit, as Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) set what looked like being the the fastest time.

However, a new Olympic Record from Lasse Norman Hansen (bettering the one set by Bradley Wiggins at Beijing 2008) won the event.

Hansen now leads overall after victory in the pursuit was added to his win in the scratch race earlier in the evening.

Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) sets a new Olympic record in the 4km individual pursuit discipline in the 2016 omnium. Photo: Graham Watson

Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) sets a new Olympic record in the 4km individual pursuit discipline during the omnium. Photo: Graham Watson
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Cavendish came into the race with a sixth place in the scratch race earlier in the evening, and did his overall ambitions for a medal a huge favour with his performance in the second event.

The Manxman went head-to-head with former trade teammate Fernando Gaviria (Colombia), but caught and passed the present pursuit world champion during the 4km race.

Cavendish is not normally associated with the pursuit, preferring the more explosive disciplines of the omnium.

Both riders had the early benchmark of Elia Viviani (Italy) to aim for as they completed 16 laps of the velodrome.

Cavendish went out fast and held the pace for the whole ride but his leading time only lasted for a short period before Hansen set the new record and won the second omnium event.

The riders face the elimination race to finish the track cycling session on Sunday August 14, with the final three events split across the two sessions on Monday.

More from the Olympics

Elia Viviani wins omnium elimination race as mistake costs Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish takes sixth in scratch race to start omnium campaign

Becky James and Katy Marchant progress to 1/8 final of track sprint

Bradley Wiggins backs Shane Sutton to be re-instated by British Cycling after Rio Olympics

Your guide to the omnium

Result

Men’s omnium: 4000m individual pursuit

1. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) 4:14.982 [Olympic record]

2. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 4:16.878

3. Elia Viviani (ITA) 4:17.453

4. Roger Kluge (GER) 4:18.907

5. Thomas Boudat (FRA) 4:19.918

6. Dylan Kennett (NZL) 4:20.180

7. Tim Veldt (NED) 4:22.856

8. Bobby Lea (USA) 4:23.942

9. Gideoni Monteiro (BRA) 4:25.808

10. Fernando Gaviria (COL) 4:26.649

11. Glenn O’Shea (AUS) 4:28.350

12. Sanghoon Park (KOR) 4:29.079

13. Chun Wing Leung (HKG) 4:29.162

14. Ignacio Prado (MEX) 4:29.396

15. Artyom Zakharov (KAZ) 4:32.503

16. Jasper De Buyst (BEL) 4:36.246

17. Gael Suter (SUI) 4:36.674

18. Kazushige Kuboki (JPN) 4:39.889

Overall top ten after two rounds

1. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) 80

2. Roger Kluge (GER) 72

3. Mark Cavendish (GBR) 68

4. Thomas Boudat (FRA) 68

5. Elia Viviani (ITA) 64

6. Glenn O’Shea (AUS) 54

7. Fernando Gaviria (COL) 54

8. Dylan Kennett (NZL) 52

9. Tim Veldt (NED) 48

10. Park Sanghoon (KOR) 42

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Jack Elton-Walters hails from the Isle of Wight, and would be quick to tell anyone that it's his favourite place to ride. He has covered a varied range of topics for Cycling Weekly, producing articles focusing on tech, professional racing and cycling culture. He moved on to work for Cyclist Magazine in 2017 where he stayed for four years until going freelance. He now returns to Cycling Weekly from time-to-time to cover racing, review cycling gear and write longer features for print and online.