Geraint Thomas clocked four minutes 17.265 seconds to take fifth place in the men's individual pursuit at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.
The Briton was in the first heat and his early advantage lasted until the fifth when New Zealand's Westley Gough clocked 4:17.001.
Rohan Dennis posted 4:16.051 in the penultimate heat to usurp Gough as leader.
Dennis' Australian team-mates Michael Hepburn and Jack Bobridge, the world record holder, then met in the final heat.
Hepburn claimed victory in 4:13.224, with Bobridge clocking 4:14.783 to set up another meeting between the pair in the final.
Dennis will be targeting victory over Gough in the bronze medal ride-off in order for the hosts to claim a clean sweep of the podium.
Thomas is now set to recuperate for Sunday's Madison, which he is set to ride in partnership with Ben Swift.