Australia smashes World Record to claim 2015 Women's Team Pursuit world title
	February 20th 2015           Australia won the women's team pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships for only the second time since the introduction of the event. A dominant performance in the final saw Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson and Melissa Hoskins not only break but destroy the World Record with a time of 4mins 13.683seconds. Three seconds faster than Great Britain. For Ankudinoff it is her second gold medal in the event. "I'm a bit speechless to be honest. I definitely forgot what it was like to win a world championship," said Ankudinoff, speaking to Cycling Australia. "To look up and do four thirteen yeah just speechless. "We have put in the hard work all together to come out here and not just win the gold medal but to do it in world record time it is pretty cool." In the final Great Britain got off to a marginally faster start but by the second lap Australia was firmly in control and didn't look back. At the one kilometre mark Australia had built an advantage of over half a second and maintained that advantage at the half way mark. Long time women's endurance coach Gary Sutton was with them every step of the way. "Seeing Sutto up on the line and getting excited, you know you're up on a good one when he gets excited," explained Hoskins. "I remember when Ash, Jose [Tomic] and Sarah [Kent] won it in 2010, I was at home watching and I was just coming in and I had been training with them and I thought next year that's going to be me I want to be on the top step. It's been a long five years since then." The Great Britain squad lost a rider and were down to three just after the half way mark as Australia increased the pace. With one kilometre left to ride Australia were one and a half seconds up with Britain starting to struggle. Australia continued to push the pace in the final kilometre, crossing the line with 4mins 13.683seconds. Destroying the previous World Record of 4mins 16.552secs set at altitude in Aguascalientes. Bronze went to Canada, who defeated New Zealand in the previous heat. "We did a four seventeen in the first round so we knew that the form was there and we were quite controlled so I thought in my head we could do a fifteen maybe if we really really unleash," said Edmondson. "I didn't look up at the scoreboard for two whole laps before I looked up and I saw a thirteen I couldn't believe that" For Edmondson a world title has been a long time coming having claimed nine medals across the junior and senior ranks, with a world title always proving elusive. "Unbelievable!" said Edmondson, "We've worked so hard for this. I've just spent every night of the last year dreaming about this so to actually go across the line and do it is speechless. "I don't want to ever take this jersey off." After missing out on the chance to defend her title in the points race Cure was happy to again find herself on the top step of the podium. "Ecstatic at the moment it is still a bit surreal but I just can't believe it." Gary Sutton was full of praise for the team. "The girls full credit to the they have put it together big time. They are at a good age now where they understand you need to be fully committed. "I thought they would do a sixteen tonight, I didn't see that time coming. It is not about times it is obviously about winning tonight, which they did and the time is a bonus," explained Sutton. "Everyone is speaking about how good they were with their technique, their skill factor and Ian McKenzie has played a major role in that." "We have so many people to thank. Ian McKenzie back home who has been working really hard with us and putting everything he can in to us," added Cure. Qualifying and Round 1 In qualifying the second last team to start Ankudinoff, Cure, Edmondson and Hoskins started strongly and proceeded to build over the four kilometres to post a time of 4mins 18.135secs. Improving by over two and a half seconds. Defending Champions Great Britain were the last to start and despite coming home strongly in the final kilometre could only manage the second fastest time of 4mins 18.207secs. Day two opened with the first round and Great Britain were ready to get back on top. Riding in the penultimate heat against Canada the British team posted a time of 4mins 16.979secs, just half a second outside the world record set at altitude in Aguascalientes at the end of 2013. In the final heat the Australian team of again Ankudinoff, Cure, Edmondson and Hoskins posted a time of 4mins 17.410secs. Slightly slower than the time of Great Britain but a further improvement on the Australian record. The time saw them easily defeat New Zealand and set up a gold medal showdown with Great Britain. Heading in to the World Championships after setting a new national record at the Australian Championships Ankudinoff, Cure, Edmondson and Hoskins were reading for the next test. "We aren't just riding for a podium this year, we are riding for rainbows," revealed Hoskins.