DENMARK FIRST MEN'S TEAM PURSUIT TO GO SUB 3:40

The men’s team pursuit at the European Track Championships in Konya produced one of the defining endurance performances of the season, as Denmark men's team pursuit obliterated the world record in round one, while Switzerland men's team pursuit delivered a major shock by eliminating Great Britain men's team pursuit from the competition.

Denmark set a new men’s team pursuit world record in round one with a stunning time of 3:39.977, becoming the first team in history to break the 3:40 barrier. The record-breaking quartet comprised Tobias Hansen, Lasse Norman Leth, Frederik Madsen and Rasmus Pedersen.

The performance eclipsed the previous world record of 3:40.730, which had been set by Australia at the Paris Olympic Games, and represented a major step forward in the evolution of men’s endurance track racing.

The record was achieved at the Konya Velodrome, which has rapidly established itself as one of the fastest tracks in the world. The venue’s altitude reduces air density and aerodynamic drag, enabling higher sustained speeds, and has already played host to multiple world records across sprint and endurance events during these championships.

While Denmark’s ride redefined what is possible in the discipline, the most unexpected outcome came elsewhere in the round-one match-ups. Switzerland produced a composed and tactically assured performance to defeat Great Britain, eliminating one of the pre-race favourites and ending Britain’s medal hopes earlier than anticipated.

The Swiss victory over Great Britain marked one of the biggest upsets of the championships. Switzerland maintained consistent pacing and clean rider changes, while Great Britain were unable to close the gap once the race settled, highlighting the unforgiving nature of team pursuit racing in a knockout format.

Denmark’s world-record performance was characterised by exceptional cohesion, precision pacing and minimal speed loss through transitions. The team maintained relentless pressure across the full four kilometres, underlining the depth and maturity of the Danish endurance programme.

The final classification confirmed Denmark’s dominance in the event, with Switzerland’s breakthrough victory over Great Britain standing out as a pivotal moment in the competition. For Switzerland, the result signals growing strength and competitiveness within European men’s endurance racing.

For Great Britain, the early exit serves as a reminder of the increasingly narrow margins at the elite level, where rising programmes and fast conditions can rapidly reshape the competitive landscape.

The men’s team pursuit in Konya encapsulated the wider themes of the championships: record-breaking speed driven by optimal conditions, combined with unpredictable results as emerging nations challenge established powers.

Denmark’s 3:39.977 now stands as the new global benchmark for the discipline. As attention turns toward upcoming World Championships and the next Olympic cycle, the record sets a formidable target for rival nations and confirms that men’s team pursuit racing has entered a new era of performance.