Filippo Ganna thunders to world record on Track World Championships day three
Italian claims sixth world track title in show-stopping display


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Hour Record holder Filippo Ganna became only the second person in history to go under four minutes in the individual pursuit, breaking the world record by three tenths of a second with a 3-59.636 at the Track World Championships.
“I think today we’ve written a part of history,” Ganna told Cycling Weekly after the race. “It’s an amazing moment for us all.”
On Thursday, the Italian placed second in the team pursuit, a discipline in which he and his teammates broke the world record at the Olympics last year.
“Today, at nine o’clock, I woke up. At 10 o’clock, I didn’t want to do the individual pursuit. At quarter past, everyone from the national team came in my room and tried to help me to take the decision.
“From tonight, I’m going to just celebrate,” Ganna added. “Maybe beers, maybe gin and tonics, it depends. Maybe champagne, we’re in France.”
The 26-year-old beat his compatriot Jonathan Milan by four seconds in the event’s all-Italian final.
In the bronze medal race, Great Britain’s Dan Bigham couldn’t overcome Ivo Oliveira (Portugal) to claim a spot on the podium. The team pursuit world champion set a new British record of 4-05.181 in qualifying, but struggled in the play-off, going five seconds slower than his previous effort.
“I just didn’t have it, simple as that,” Bigham said.
“You scrape the barrel and you ride it with all you’ve got,” the Brit added. “I definitely gave it a good nudge.”
American Omnium glory
Jennifer Valente (USA) sailed to victory in the women’s omnium, winning three out of the four events and adding an individual world title to the four she already had in the team pursuit.
“This definitely was a long time coming,” the American told Cycling Weekly after the race. “I achieved the Olympic dream before this one, but this really had been on the forefront of my mind for quite a long time."
The Olympic omnium champion won the scratch, elimination and points races to triumph with 118 points across the event.
“It’s an overall," the 27-year-old explained. "People have good races and bad races, and you just have to be consistent. The most consistent rider is the one that wins.
“There’s no cruising. [I was against] very tough competition, a lot of up-and-coming young riders, and a lot of people that are ready to dig deep and go hard to put their name on the board.”
Dutch 21-year-old Maike van der Duin, silver medalist in Wednesday’s scratch race, came second with 109 points, winning the tempo race.
Gold at last for France
France's Mathilde Gros had the home crowds roaring when she secured her country's first rainbow jersey at this year's championships in the women's sprint.
The 23-year-old knocked out previous titleholder Emma Hinze in the semifinals, before going on to win 2-0 against the German's compatriot, six-time gold medalist Lea Sophie Friedrich, in the final.
In the men's kilometre time trial, Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands) stopped the clock at 58.106 to retain his rainbow bands ahead of European champion Melvin Landerneau (France).
The Dutch also secured the gold medal in the 40km men’s points race, with Yoeri Havik, the only rider to gain three laps on the field, clinching a career first world title. Great Britain’s Will Perrett narrowly missed out on the medals, placing fifth on his World Championships debut.
“I’m a bit gutted, to be honest,” Perrett said after the race. “I wish I could redo it.
“I’m proud of how I rode but there’s more to come, more for the future.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
-
Stefan Küng suffers concussion and broken hand in dramatic European Championships TT crash
Groupama-FDJ's Swiss rider forced to end season as a result of injuries
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tech Question: We're used to racers on narrow bars - but are they more comfortable, too?
We ask the experts what to look for in determining the optimal handlebar width
By Joe Baker Published
-
Great Britain claim first women's team pursuit gold in nine years at World Championships
British quartet win by over four seconds in final, as Danes take back crown in men's event
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Will Tidball clinches 'dream' gold medal as GB claim first rainbow jerseys of World Championships
Great Britain took home two golds on the first day, when world records tumbled in the velodrome
By Tom Davidson Published
-
UCI Track World Championships 2023: Race schedule, contenders and how to watch
The track events are just one part of the Glasgow super World Championships
By Adam Becket Published
-
UCI bans team cars from following time trial riders too closely
Team cars must now follow riders at a distance of 15 metres rather than 10
By Adam Becket Published
-
GB's Neah Evans claims stunning first world title on final day of Track World Championships
Great Britain finishes with 10 medals, after Madison silver and elimination race bronze
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Filippo Ganna in no rush to extend his new Hour Record
Italian says if he has a go at beating his own record, it will be before he retires, like Bradley Wiggins
By Adam Becket Published
-
How to watch Filippo Ganna's World Hour Record attempt: Live stream the event
Here's how to catch the Italian's long-awaited Hour Record attempt
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Laura Kenny and Ethan Hayter headline Great Britain squad for Track World Championships
The 20-rider team will compete in Paris next week
By Tom Davidson Last updated