Britain breaks cycling men's team pursuit world record _English

The team of Great Britain competes during the men's team pursuit first round of the cycling-track event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. The British team broke the world record.

The team of Great Britain competes during the men's team pursuit first round of the cycling-track event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. The British team broke the world record. (Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The British cycling team continued their dazzling performance at the Beijing Olympics by breaking the men's team pursuit world record in the first round competition at the Laoshan velodrome here on Sunday.

Leading by sprint Bradley Wiggins, the British quartet clocked a new world record of three minutes and 55.202 seconds, breaking the former record of 3:56.322, set by themselves in Manchester World Championships in March.

Wigggins who successfully defended his Olympic championship in men's individual pursuit yesterday, combined with Paul Manning, Ed Clancy and Geraint Thomas, comfortably outpaced the opposition, finishing the 4000-meter event in 3:57.101, placing fastest to enter the first round.

If Wiggins wins three medals at these games, he will become the track cyclist with the most medals in Olympic history, breaking a record that has stood for 104 years.