MANCHESTER, March 27: Reigning team sprint champions France added to the woes of track cycling’s global pacesetters Britain on the first day of the Track Cycling World Championships here on Wednesday.

Bradley Wiggins’ second consecutive title in the individual pursuit managed to cast a brighter light on the British team after clouds descended because of a doping suspicion surrounding fellow Englishman Rob Hayles, who left the championships after failing a blood screening test.

But by the end of a first day and four gold medal ceremonies Britain were looking forward to another possible gold the team pursuit after falling once again to the combined might of France’s formidable three-man sprint team.

France, who for the final shook up a trio which had topped qualifying, took gold in a new world best time of 43.271sec, leaving Britain to pick up the silver

medal for the third year in a row.

The Netherlands took the bronze after beating Germany in their medal match-up.

France have now won the team sprint event eight times in the past decade, compared to Britain’s two victories, in 2002 and 2005.

Arnaud Tournant’s surprise inclusion in the final for France, at the expense of Mickael Bourgain, paid dividends with the kilometre world record holder powering his way to victory in the final lap ahead of Scotland’s Chris Hoy.

Before a pedal was even turned, the news of Hayles failing a blood test, with a haematocrit reading over 50.3 and just over the International Cycling Union (UCI) threshold of 50, left Britain in the dumps.

Head coach Dave Brailsford said there is likely to be a perfectly good explanation, and he refused to point the finger at the 35-year-old former world pursuit medallist.—AFP