GB out of team pursuit final in Pruszkow

GREAT Britain will miss out on the chance to defend their men's team pursuit crown, having finished third in qualifying.

BELOW-PAR: Great Britain's team pursuit quarter fail to reach final in Pruszkow (Getty Images)

The British contingent comprises of only one of the reigning Olympic champion and world record holding quartet in Ed Clancy.

With Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas concentrating on the road and Paul Manning retiring, Clancy was joined in Pruszkow by Steven Burke, Jonathan Bellis and Peter Kennaugh.

And they were unable to compete with Olympic silver medallists Denmark and Australia, as the Brits came home in 4:00.818 minutes - third fastest and good enough, only for the bronze medal race against New Zealand.

There was better news for Team GB in the women's sprint as current world and Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton set the pace in the early rounds, qualfying for tonight's quarter finals ahead of 500m time trial champion Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania.

Australia's Anna Meares, who picked up 500m time trial silver and claimed team sprint gold with Kaarle McCullogh last night, was a surprise late withdrawal.