HOPES OF GOLD LEFT IN ASHES

Brits settle for silver as saddle slip gifts Aussies

- MIKE WALTERS

IN a thrilling instalment of the Ashes on wheels, Great Britain's 1,000th medal in Olympic history left Ethan Hayter saddle sore.

For 15 laps of a gripping men's team pursuit final where the Aussies were clear favourites, it was so close you couldn't fit a platypus bill between them.

Ringleader Hayter (above, right), Ethan Vernon, Dan Bigham and Charlie Tanfield put it all on the line but had to settle for silver when Hayter slipped through the front gate and left himself perched on the crossbar, unable to generate enough power.

If it brought tears to your eyes just watching it, imagine how Hayter felt.

Then Elinor Barker, Anna Morris, Josie Knight and Jess Roberts (below) pulled off a textbook fightback in the bronze medal race to pip Italy in the women's team pursuit, and in the velodrome the message is clear: Team GB mean business.