World champions Australia beat Olympic cycling counterparts Britain in the men’s team pursuit in the World Cup event at the London Olympic velodrome on Sunday.

Australia qualified fastest on Thursday night, with the teams made to wait for the final to satisfy the television audience.

The ‘Ashes’ duel did not disappoint as Australia’s Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Alex Edmondson and Michael Hepburn won in three minutes 54.615 – the second fastest time in history.

Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh had to settle for silver in 3mins 56.330secs.

Australia’s time was behind only Britain’s world record of 3:53.314, set in winning gold in Beijing in 2008.

It is a time which seems destined to fall in the coming months with New Zealand, third ahead of Belgium on Sunday in 3:59.242, and Russia, all vying for the medals.

The mark could even fall at April’s Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.