'The faster we go the more confident we get': World record destroyers set sights on Olympic team pursuit final

Broken. Smashed. Obliterated.

Australia's team pursuit squad of Kelland O'Brien, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn have laid the foundations for something very special at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after breaking the world record in a time of 3:40.730 to set up a blockbuster gold medal final versus Great Britain.

The quartet had the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines crowd on their feet with their first round performance against defending Olympic champions Italy, shaving 1.302 seconds off the previous record set by the Italians in their gold medal winning ride three years ago in Tokyo.

What looms next for the Australians is a renewal of track cycling's biggest team pursuit rivalry, a contest Welsford is craving.

“I think it will be the biggest rivalry there is (in track cycling) for us to take on the Brits again,” Welsford said.

“For me there’s that redemption from the 2016 Olympics when they beat us by 0.7 in the final.

“So for us to go against them is a really nice opportunity and all the boys are really hungry for it.

“We’ve shown today we have some good form and know how to produce fast times so I’m really excited for tomorrow.

“The faster we go the more confident we get.”

The Brits have shown good form through two rides in Paris and set a time of 3:42.151 to earn their place in the gold medal final.

Despite the world record performance, the Aussie squad is well aware the biggest job is still yet to be completed, with O'Brien already analysing what they can improve for tomorrow.

“The plan was just to get the job done really and ultimately the goal is to win on the third day which is tomorrow, the world record is a massive bonus for us,” O'Brien said.

“We were just trying to be ready for whatever it took to win the race and fortunately it was a world record and we’re really happy with that so far.

“The guys on this team have put in a massive amount of work to try to get this.

“There are probably a couple of things we can do to try and improve one more time for tomorrow, because it’s all learning every time you go out, so I’m happy with what we have adjusted since yesterday but there are a few more things to go.”

Tomorrow's Olympic final at 2:33am AEST will be Australia's first since Rio 2016.

The last time Australia tasted team pursuit gold was at Athens 2004.

Pictures: Getty Images