Friday 5 December 2014 23:42, UK
Great Britain won gold medals in the men and women's team pursuits by beating New Zealand and Australia, respectively, at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London.
Andy Tennant, Mark Christian, Owain Doull and Steven Burke rounded off a successful evening at Lee Valley's Velodrome by largely controlling their final against New Zealand.
Britain clocked 4:00.957 to New Zealand's 4:05.425 as they improved markedly on their eighth-placed finish in February's Track World Championships.
The women's team also snared gold but not without a brief scare. Leading comprehensively, Great Britain's Laura Trott pulled away from her team-mates as the quartet briefly threatened to break apart in a clumsy end to their race.
But ultimately the lead built up in the first half was enough and Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne and Trott recorded a winning time of 4:22.194 to Australia's 4:24.335.
Trott, who has never lost a team pursuit for Britain, said: "It's getting harder. You definitely feel the pressure now.
"We want to win every race but people are getting better and better. It's good for the sport. It's that battle to get into the squad that keeps us going."
The men's team overcame Denmark, who had taken an early lead but lost a rider, in the semi-finals.
Ed Clancy, Burke, Tennant and Doull eventually registered a time of 4.00.251 to Denmark's 4:00.446 in a thrilling come-from-behind win.
Fellow finallists New Zealand were the beneficiaries of cruel luck as semi-final opponents Australia lost two riders to punctures.
Earlier, GB's women's team qualified for the final after recording a time of 4:24.715 to beat the United States.
After a false start, Archibald, Barker, Rowsell and Horne never looked threatened by their American counterparts.
Great Britain had soon built up a three-second gap and had the USA in their sights after 1000m. Such was their dominance they were able to take a breather as they closed in on victory, leaving something in the tank for the final.
Their semi-final time was bettered by Australia who recorded 4:24.504 by beating Canada.
Germany took the men's team sprint gold medal beating New Zealand, but their women's team sprinters lost out to China by 0.014 seconds.
Illness contributed to Great Britain's failure to advance in the men's team sprint.
Despite fielding Olympic champions Phil Hindes and Jason Kenny, alongside Callum Skinner, Britain placed a lowly seventh.
Jess Varnish and Vicky Williamson also missed out on a medal ride in the women's event after placing fifth in qualifying.
GB teenager Oliver Wood came eighth in the men's points race. Mark Stewart came 15th with one point.
