<p>Italy broke their own world record to win Olympic gold in the men's team pursuit on Wednesday, beating world champions Denmark in a thrilling final at the Izu Velodrome.</p>.<p>The Italians shaded a neck-and-neck battle on the track, their blistering time of 3min 42.032sec just enough to hold off Denmark, who crossed the line in 3:42.198.</p>.<p>Led by the 25-year-old Filippo Ganna, Italy's quartet roared with delight after powering to victory, circling around the arena in front of an enthralled crowd of around 1,000 fans in Shizuoka.</p>.<p>Located 145km outside Tokyo, the velodrome is one of the few venues at Tokyo 2020 to allow a limited number of spectators and they were treated to a brilliant final in what is the most prestigious event of the track cycling programme.</p>.<p>Ganna, Simone Consonni, Francesco Lamon and Jonathan Milan sealed a record-extending eighth Olympic gold medal in the men's team pursuit for Italy, although it is also their first gold in the event since 1960.</p>.<p>They had already broken the world record on Tuesday, lowering the mark Denmark set en route to becoming world champions in Berlin last year.</p>.<p>Denmark were going for only their second men's team pursuit gold and went close, with their time also beating Italy's previous world record time.</p>.<p>Australia claimed a bronze medal to go with their silvers from 2012 and 2016 after they beat New Zealand, whose hopes were ended when Aaron Gate crashed out.</p>.<p>New Zealand were leading at the halfway point but Gate went sliding across the boards after nicking Regan Gough's back wheel, allowing Australia to seal a comfortable victory.</p>.<p>Reigning Olympic champions Great Britain were left racing against Switzerland for seventh place after their dramatic crash against Denmark on Tuesday had scuppered their time.</p>.<p>Britain won the race, beating the Swiss with a new national record of 3:45.636.</p>
<p>Italy broke their own world record to win Olympic gold in the men's team pursuit on Wednesday, beating world champions Denmark in a thrilling final at the Izu Velodrome.</p>.<p>The Italians shaded a neck-and-neck battle on the track, their blistering time of 3min 42.032sec just enough to hold off Denmark, who crossed the line in 3:42.198.</p>.<p>Led by the 25-year-old Filippo Ganna, Italy's quartet roared with delight after powering to victory, circling around the arena in front of an enthralled crowd of around 1,000 fans in Shizuoka.</p>.<p>Located 145km outside Tokyo, the velodrome is one of the few venues at Tokyo 2020 to allow a limited number of spectators and they were treated to a brilliant final in what is the most prestigious event of the track cycling programme.</p>.<p>Ganna, Simone Consonni, Francesco Lamon and Jonathan Milan sealed a record-extending eighth Olympic gold medal in the men's team pursuit for Italy, although it is also their first gold in the event since 1960.</p>.<p>They had already broken the world record on Tuesday, lowering the mark Denmark set en route to becoming world champions in Berlin last year.</p>.<p>Denmark were going for only their second men's team pursuit gold and went close, with their time also beating Italy's previous world record time.</p>.<p>Australia claimed a bronze medal to go with their silvers from 2012 and 2016 after they beat New Zealand, whose hopes were ended when Aaron Gate crashed out.</p>.<p>New Zealand were leading at the halfway point but Gate went sliding across the boards after nicking Regan Gough's back wheel, allowing Australia to seal a comfortable victory.</p>.<p>Reigning Olympic champions Great Britain were left racing against Switzerland for seventh place after their dramatic crash against Denmark on Tuesday had scuppered their time.</p>.<p>Britain won the race, beating the Swiss with a new national record of 3:45.636.</p>