Owain Doull’s hopes of striking gold at the World Championships were dashed after a thrilling men’s team pursuit battle in London.

The Cardiff flier took silver along with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy and Jon Dibben as Australia won on the Olympic Velodrome.

Doull produced a stunning performance and with a lap to go the foursome were leading by the narrowest of margins having trailed from the gun..

But they had already dropped Dibben and when lead off man Clancy slipped off it allowed the Aussies to snatch gold.

The time is stopped when the third man crosses the line at the end of the lung-busting 4km and the Aussies clocked three minutes 52.727secs.

Britain finished in 3:53.856 and will surely look for revenge in an event they have dominated in the past with the likes of Doull’s fellow Welshman Geraint Thomas in the quartet.

Doull, just 22, rides for the team set-up by Wiggins and finished third in last year’s Tour of Britain.

And his display in the final was hailed by ex-Olympic champion Chris Boardman after he crossed the line alongside Britain’s cycling legend.

The 1992 individual pursuit gold medalist said: “Owain was man of the match. He matched Brad pedal rev for pedal rev.”