Germany bags gold; Dygert breaks WR

Lea Sophie Friedrich produced a storming second lap to win gold for Germany in the 500-metre time trial at the world track cycling championships in Berlin on a day of disappointment for Australian contenders.

US cyclist Chloe Dygert cut her own world record twice in winning the women's individual pursuit, there was a fifth victory for the Netherlands in the women's Madison and France's Benjamin Thomas triumphed in the men's Omnium.

The 20-year-old Friedrich trailed Mexico's Jessica Salazar after her first lap but dug deep in front of home fans in Berlin to win in 33.12 seconds.

Salazer was knocked into silver for her first global medal, just 0.03 seconds behind, while bronze went to Italy's Miriam Vece, five hundredths off the pace.

Defending champion Daria Shmeleva finished only sixth.

"I cannot describe it," said Friedrich. "I am so proud that we could rock it."

Dygert took nearly three seconds off her world record in qualifying, a jump so large organisers took time to double check there hadn't been a timing error.

She then posted three minutes 16.93 seconds over three kilometres to win her third world title in the discipline - about 3.5 seconds quicker than her 3:20.060 to win in 2018.

Germany's Lisa Brennauer, runner-up in 2019, then muscled in with a courageous ride which threatened Dygert's mark before fading to a national record of 3:18.32 minutes.

Australian defending champion Ashlee Ankudinoff finished off the pace in 14th.