Bradley Wiggins won the pursuit world title with a time of 4:18.519 but for the pragmatic British rider it was just another job done as he attempts to win three titles during the Manchester world championships.
Wiggins beat Holland?s Jenning Huizenga by almost five seconds, with the Dutchman setting a time of 4:23.474. Russia?s Alexei Markov won the bronze medal with a time of 4:21.097.
?I?m really satisfied. It?s a great relief. To win in Manchester was a fantastic feeling. I?m just pleased I got the job done. I said before I wasn?t bothered about the time, I know what time I was capable of riding,? Wiggins said.
?I got a bit excited in the qualifying ride in the first couple of kilometres and had to throttle back a bit to not do too much damage for the final. In the final it was a just a case of going on a schedule I knew the Dutch guy wouldn?t be able to do.?
?This is about the three events I?ve got to ride and I?m back up here tomorrow (Thursday). We?ve got team pursuit tomorrow and we?re favourites for that. The boys are going really well. I?ve come back in and it?s going to be another exciting day tomorrow.?
Wiggins celebrated with the almost sold out crowd in the velodrome.
?It?s just fantastic. It?s great to ride in any event, the Revolution, a World Cups or the world championships. It?s always well supported by the people and it?s great to win in front of them. It?s certainly one of my best world titles,? he said.
Wiggins talked about Rob Hayles and defended his team mate.
?It was a huge shock to everyone. We found out at lunchtime. He was absolutely gutted. Unfortunately in these cases people jump to the worst-case scenario but it?s just one of those things. Rob?s one of the longest serving riders on this programme and one of the cleanest guys around. It? just as huge shame that it?s happen to a gut like him.?
?Fortunately he?s got a great family around him and I?m sure he?ll be back. We all know Rob Hayles and I?ve got absolutely no doubt whatsoever.?
2008 TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAILY REPORTS
Sunday, day five>>
Saturday, day four>>
Friday, day three>>
Thursday, day two>>
Wednesday, day one>>
RELATED LINKS
Women's Keirin: Reed denies Pendleton the perfect finish
Who are Brit's golden nine?
Hoy wins the Keirin
Eighth gold for Britain in the Madison
Gold for Pendleton in the sprint
Chris Hoy wins sprint gold
Pursuit women take fifth British gold medal
Jo Rowsell's gold: the toast of Sutton Cycling Club
Belarussian wins men's points race
Britain going for more gold on Friday
Comment: How many more gold for GB?
Hat-trick of golds for Britain
Britain break team pursuit world record
GB into women's team pursuit final
Gold for Romero in individual pursuit
Reade and Pendleton cruise into team sprint final
Track World Champs: results
Romero breaks British pursuit record
It's Britain vs Denmark in team pursuit final
Britain aiming for team pursuit world record
Britain take silver in team sprint
Crowd step in as French anthem stalls
Hayles denies cheating after failing blood test
Wiggins: "I'm pleased I got the job done"
Wiggins wins pursuit gold
Brailsford defends Hayles after failed blood test
Hayles fails pre-race blood test at Track Worlds
Cycling Weekly's 2008 Track World Championships preview
PHOTO GALLERIES
CW's online gallery section>>
Day three in pictures
Day two in pictures
Day one in pictures
USA Cycling unveils 2025 National Championship schedule with 17 chances to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey
Tech of the week: A shockingly expensive steel bike from Colnago, a surprisingly affordable carbon bike from Pinarello, DT Swiss energises our cycling lives and Pog's bars are now yours to buy
