'Really special': Aussies break national record, make statement in men's track pursuit

Australia's men's team pursuit track cycling team qualified with the fastest time in Paris, coming close to setting a new world record.

At the St Quentin en Yvelines velodrome, the Aussie team consisting of Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Kelland O'Brien recorded a time of 3:42.958 for the 4,000m event.

The time beat the national record by more than a second.

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The world record, set by Italy at the Tokyo Olympics, is 3:42.032.

Great Britain finished second, with Italy third and Denmark fourth.

The Australian team, which finished fourth in last year's World Championships, is bidding to win the men's team pursuit gold for the first time since Athens 2004.

"You never know what Italy are going to pull out in the next couple of days, but we are very proud of what we have done so far," O'Brien told reporters.

Welsford said the team was not getting carried away with the ride.

"That's a massive PB for us, to go 42.9, it's really special," Welsford said.

"But we knew it was going to be fast here, the track is so good for team pursuiting, the conditions.

"It was a bit of a surprise to see 42, to be honest ... but we rode it really well. We had a lot more to give, also, at the end.

"It's a lot of redemption, to come here, really have a good shot at it and really nail the process."

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Italy's Jonathan Milan said his team did not go all out and will have some energy left in the tank for the coming round.

"It's pretty good. We are quite satisfied. We know we had some pretty tough competitors and we have marginal gains to play," he said.

"We didn't go flat out, not really.

"We have to be a bit careful. I'm pretty positive. Now we have to rest as much as possible and come back tomorrow (Tuesday) as fresh as we can."

However Kate Bates, in commentary for Nine, disputed that viewpoint.

"The Italians came in with this hot reputation. The wheels fell off. Their coaching staff looked like stunned mullets.

"They did not expect that. I think it rattled the riders out on track as well."

The two fastest winners will fight it out for the gold medal race on Wednesday while the two slowest winners meet for bronze.