UPDATE 1-Olympics-Cycling-Germany dethrone Britain to win women's team pursuit

The German quartet of Franziska Brausse, Lisa Brennauer, Lisa Klein and Mieke Kroeger almost caught Britain in the 4km final at the Izu Velodrome, finishing in 4:04.242. Britain had won the two previous golds in the women's discipline introduced to the track programme at London 2012.

Germany dethroned Britain's women as queens of the Olympic track team pursuit in sensational fashion with an emphatic victory in the final in yet another world record. The German quartet of Franziska Brausse, Lisa Brennauer, Lisa Klein, and Mieke Kroeger almost caught Britain in the 4km final at the Izu Velodrome, finishing in 4:04.242.

Britain had won the two previous golds in the women's discipline introduced to the track program at London 2012. An incredible afternoon of action had seen Britain, led by four-time Olympic track champion Laura Kenny, reclaim the world record that Germany had obliterated in Monday's qualifiers.

But Germany broke the world record again shortly afterward and then went even faster in the final. The United States took the bronze medal.

 

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