Team GB start strong in qualifying by breaking women's team sprint record - only to be beaten by China

Victoria Pendleton prepares to defend her women's sprint title (Getty Images)

Great Britain's Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton set a team sprint world record in qualifying only to see China better the mark moments later in the opening Olympic event at the London 2012 velodrome.

The eight fastest teams advanced to the first round, with Varnish and Pendleton clocking 32.526 seconds to better the time Germany set in winning Track Cycling World Championships gold in Melbourne in April.

But China's Gong Jinjie and Guo Shuang went faster still in the fifth and final heat, clocking 32.447secs.

German duo Kristina Vogel and Miriam Welte were third fastest in 32.630, with Australia's Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch fourth quickest in 32.825.

The four fastest teams from the first round were set to go through to the medal rounds in an event which was wide open.

PA