Great Britain's young representatives at the Beijing round of the UCI Track World Cup have made a solid start to their campaign by scoring bronze in the team pursuit, and setting a new Olympic Academy record in the process.
The time of 4-05-010 set by the British quartet of Mark Christian, Luke Rowe, Erick Rowsell and Simon Yates is the fastest time for the team pursuit ever achieved by Olympic Academy Programme riders.
They beat the Netherlands in the bronze medal ride-off, a feat all the more impressive given that Yates was making his World Cup debut. Russia beat Spain to take gold.
Another British World Cup debutant, Sam Harrison, made a big impression on the men's omnium, placing second overall behind leader Zachary Bell (Canada) after three rounds of six. Harrison trails Bell by just three points.
Britain's equally young team sprinters placed sixth behind winners France. Like Yates and Harrison, Phillip Hindes made his World Cup debut in China riding alongside Dave Daniell and Peter Mitchell.
Home nation China won the women's team sprint, with New Zealand coming out on top in the women's team pursuit. Britain did not field a team in either event.
On Saturday, Harrison races in the final three rounds of the men's omnium, Daniell contests the men's Keirin, Lizzie Armitstead rides the women's omnium and Becky James takes on the women's sprint.
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Young riders represent GB at Beijing World Cup
