Germany deny Britain again

GB team of Manning, Newton, Steel and Bradley Wiggins

Great Britain's hopes of claiming gold at the World Track Championships were dashed when they were beaten by the German quartet in the 4,000m team pursuit final.

The team of Paul Manning, Christopher Newton, Bryan Steel and Bradley Wiggins had earned a final place at the expense of France.

The team for the final saw Jon Clay replace Bryan Steel and they were still in touch after the first 1000m of the race but they then struggled in what was a repeat of the 1973 final in San Sebastian.

The British team conceded the title after the Germans had been impeded while leading by an official who had strayed on to the track.

Inspired

There was to be no end to 27 years of hurt as the world record holders, led by an inspired performance from Olympic and world individual silver medallist Jens Lehmann, powered to victory despite dropping their fourth rider with a kilometre to go.

Elsewhere at the World Championships in Manchester, French cyclist Marion Clignet successfully defended her women's points race title

The 36-year-old American-born Clignet built up a solid lead over the 25km course, with Germany's Judith Arndt, just like last year, once again had to settle for silver, with bronze going to Russia's Olga Slyussareva.

Tense

"I discovered the points race last year. It's not my speciality but I felt at ease, less tense than before," said pursuit-specialist Clignet, who has won three of her six world titles on track and road.

Over the 100-lap race Clignet, who won her second Olympic pursuit silver in Sydney last month but placed just sixth in the points race, was a lap ahead of her rivals launching her attack during the eighth of ten sprints.

"I decided to wait until the others tired before attacking. This is why I waited.

"I counted on Arndt attacking early on. I planned my race around her," added Clignet, who took up cycling because she was unable to get a driving licence in the United States because she suffered from epilepsy.