A freak setback in an attempted world title defence by Australia's male team pursuit outfit has been sweetened by a bronze medal win from Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch, and a new national record by the female pursuiters.
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For reigning Olympic sprint champion Meares, who is preparing for next year's Rio Olympics after deciding she didn't want London to be her swansong, this latest result in Paris was, incredibly, her 24th career world championships medal.
The 31-year-old legend of Australian cycling has now won six medals at world title meets with McCulloch in the discipline, including three gold – a result the pair will be eager to reproduce come next year's Rio Games.
On the opening day of competition at Paris' packed Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome, the bronze was the only medal Australia claimed.
The big shock for Australia's track team came in the men's team pursuit qualifying when a mechanical failure spoiled the hopes of an outfit that had previously appeared close to bulletproof.
Australia had dominated the men's team pursuit at world championships, winning four of the past five titles in the discipline, but on Wednesday (Paris time), Luke Davison's right crank broke off his bike on the first bend in qualifying.
In a complete unraveling, two-time world champion Alex Edmonson then suffered a rear puncture which caused teammate Mitchell Mulhern to crash over the top of him.
It was later determined that a small axle bolt had failed on Davison's bike. Multiple track world champion Jack Bobridge was the only member of the Australian outfit not affected by the events that clearly rattled the team.
Granted a restart after a pause to fix the bikes, Australia only managed a disappointing 3:58.900 – the fifth fastest qualifying time – which means the best they can hope for is a bronze medal. The medal rides in the event will take place on Friday, Paris time.
"It's pretty gut-wrenching to see all that unfold," national coach Tim Decker said.
Bobridge, who has returned to the track in preparation for Rio after focusing on the road in recent years with Orica-GreenEDGE, said: "It didn't go our way today but we're in France, not in Rio, which is our big objective".
Australia's female pursuit team of Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure, Annette Edmonson and Melissa Hoskins, by contrast, set a new national record – 4:18.135 – and posted the fast qualifying time.
It was a particularly welcome result for Cure, who was unable to defend her world title in the points race in Paris due to an unfortunate clash that saw the event scheduled in the middle of the teams pursuit qualifying.
Australia last won a world title in the women's team pursuit in 2010 but have medalled in the event in five of the last six world championships.
The time in Paris beat the Australian benchmark of 4:20.999 set by Ankudinoff, Cure, Hoskins and Edmondson at the national titles last month in Melbourne.
The finals will be raced on Thursday evening, Paris time.
Meares and McCulloch qualified fourth fastest in their team sprint event – in a time of 32.878 – and then beat Germany for the bronze medal.
Australia qualified sixth fastest in the men's team sprint – 2012 world champions Shane Perkins and Matthew Glaetzer teamed with Nathan Hart, making his debut at the level – thereby missing the medal rides that were contested by New Zealand, France, Germany and Russia.
* UCI track world championships, Paris: 18-22 February
