Olympic track kings Britain landed gold in the women's team pursuit in Pruszkow of Poland at the world track cycling championships on Thursday.

Britain, winners of an incredible seven of the 10 Olympic titles in Beijing, were left trailing in several potential gold-winning events for the second day in a row.

Wendy Houvenaghel teamed up with Joanna Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead to beat New Zealand to the gold in the women's 3km pursuit event, defending their title in the process.

But in the team sprint final Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade failed to outgun a mix of Aussie youth and experience in 25-year-old Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch, 21.

Meares, who claimed silver in the women's 500m time trial Wednesday, powered over the first lap to leave Shanaze Reade trailing by the slimmest of margins.

Despite having to hold off world and Olympic sprint champion Pendleton, McCulloch finished off the job to bring Australia home in a winning time of 33.149 seconds.

Pendleton took a well deserved bronze in the 500m time trial Wednesday, but after losing this crown will turn to more serious matters in the women's sprint tournament, in McCulloch, not Meares, will carry Australia's hopes.

Arguably the biggest event of the day was the men's individual pursuit. American teenager Taylor Phinney struck gold in the men's pursuit to end the United States' 16-year wait for the title.

Phinney overcame a strong challenge from Australian Jack Bobridge, who finished second with Belgian Dominique Cornu beating Volodymyr Dyudya to the bronze.

Cavendish, however, missed a crucial break early in the men's scratch race, won in deserved fashion by Frenchman Morgan Kneisky.

It is France's second gold of the championships, following their victory over Britain in the men's team sprint on Wednesday.

After nine of 19 events, however, it is Australia - for whom Meares won the only medal at the Olympics, a silver in the women's sprint - who lead the medals table with two gold, two silver and a bronze.

In the fifth and final event of the day Germany's Maximilian Levy beat Frenchman Francois Pervis to gold to succeed Hoy as the new keirin king.

Pervis finished with the silver and Dutchman Teun Mulder took the bronze.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2009)