Great Britain dominated the opening team pursuit qualifying rounds at the European Track Championship in Grenchen, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Both GB’s male and female quartets clocked the fastest times by a clear margin over their nearest rivals.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke, Owain Doull and Andy Tennant set a time of 3-57.277 to average 60.688 km/h and go comfortably under the four-minute mark. The team will face Russia in the championship’s first proper day of competition tomorrow (Thursday) as they seek to gain a place in the gold medal final.
Switzerland were the only other team to post a sub-four-minute time, going second fastest with 3-59.026. France were third with 4-00.735.
Great Britain heads off in the team pursuit qualifying round
“We didn’t really know what to expect coming in because we’ve been doing a lot of training into it,” Doull commented to British Cycling.
“That was the aim to do something around that time and have a nice smooth consistent ride. Yeah pretty successful.”
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It’s the first clear indication that Wiggins has slotted into the GB line-up with ease, complementing Burke, Doull and Tennant. At this point, the performance looks on target for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Sir Bradley Wiggins at the 2015 European Track Championships
Also on target were the British women’s quartet of Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne and Joanna Rowsell Shand, who were clearly in a league of their own.
The squad posted a time of 4-21.089, some nine and a half seconds quicker than second-placed Russia. Italy qualified third fastest.
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GB’s women will face Poland on Thursday in the first round, which also includes the team sprint, men’s scratch race and women’s point race.
The 2015 European Track Championships run until Sunday, October 18.
Bradley Wiggins takes a break at the Euro track champs
