Great Britain's team pursuit squad set a cycling world record in qualifying on a night of high drama at the London 2012 Olympic Velodrome.
Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Geraint Thomas and Peter Kennaugh laid down the gauntlet to their rivals.
The British quartet, who set the world record in winning April's Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, went 0.796 seconds faster on the opening day of action on the track, clocking three minutes 52.499 seconds.