Aussies stand in way of second gold for Wiggins

London's Bradley Wiggins was preparing to ride for his second cycling gold medal of the Games today having been told that nothing short of perfection would be good enough to secure victory.

Wiggins, winner of the men's individual pursuit title on Saturday, was certain to retain his place in the four-man team for the pursuit final after helping Steve Cummings, Paul Manning and Chris Newton set a British record of 3mins 59.866secs while overlapping first round rivals France.

But that time was eclipsed by world champions Australia, who smashed their own world record by almost two seconds to leave the new mark on 3mins 56.610secs. The Aussies were clear favourites to win a two-team ride-off for gold inside the sweltering Olympic Velodrome and British coach Simon Jones admitted: "We have to be the best we can be. I want the perfect team pursuit.

"In training we've gone out faster than they went to two kilometres. But after that it's down to pride, passion and ignorance. And by ignorance I mean ignorance of pain."

Britain's Ross Edgar battled through to the quarter-finals of the men's sprint.