EAST Lancashire cycling star Steven Burke was key to Great Britain taking the gold medal in the men’s track cycling World Cup meeting in Manchester – according to team-mate Ed Clancy.

Burke and Clancy were joined by Andy Tennant and Owain Doull in racing to victory in the men’s team pursuit as the GB quartet saw off the challenge of Australia to win in 3mins 58.552secs on Friday night.

And Clancy, who together with Burke was part of the Great Britain squad that won gold in the same event at the 2012 London Olympics, believes the Colne ace held the quartet together.

“We were on our limit there, apart from Burkey, who made it look pretty easy,” said Clancy.

“We did all right. We didn’t set the world on fire. We did a great ride in qualifying, we just didn’t quite back it up in the final.”

Burke hopes Britain can use the performance as a marker at the start of the season and ahead of next February's World Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Burke said: “It’s the first round of the World Cup and a good time.

“We can have a look at that and hopefully get better in the next round (of the World Cup), out in Mexico and build up for the worlds. It’s all good so far.”

Victoria Williamson and Becky James were second in the women’s team sprint behind world and Olympic champions Kristina Vogel and Miriam Welte of Germany.

Williamson and James, bronze medallists in Minsk in February as the Germans won the world title, finished in 33.635, with their rivals taking gold in 32.788.

Burke was in the frame to ride the individual pursuit but in the end Tennant did, finishing in sixth place.