BEIJING (AP) -Britain beat France for the gold medal in the men's Olympic cycling team sprint Friday, avenging three straight losses to their top rivals at the world championships.

With new bikes estimated at US$26,000 apiece and wearing high-tech, rubbery skinsuits, Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff finished the three laps around the velodrome in 43.128 seconds, nipping the French time of 43.651.

Earlier they had set a world best time of 42.950 seconds in qualifying. There is no formal world record in the team sprint because the race is contested over three laps, irrespective of the length of the track.

The French had been strongly tipped to win, having beaten the British in the final of the world championships three times in succession.

"Everything is possible. Nobody is invincible,'' said Hoy, who is hoping for three golds in Beijing.

"It's very rare to get three riders on the form of their life on the same day, and that's what happened today.''

From the outset, the British were in control and added to their margin with every lap, as hundreds of their fans waved flags and cheered inside the Laoshan velodrome.

"Maybe the British had a different method of work and preparation than us,'' said disappointed French rider Gregory Bauge. "Still, I'm going to try to enjoy this medal.''

Germany, the defending Olympic champion, beat Australia by 0.008 seconds for the bronze medal.

"We knew we could get a place between two and five, so third is good,'' said German Maximilian Levy.

"I'm surprised that the British guys are so fast,'' he said, noting that all three teams on the podium beat the time that won the gold in Athens for Germany.

In the team sprint, each member leads for one lap and the two teams start on opposite sides of the track.

Britain is expected to dominate in track cycling and could take eight of the 10 golds on offer. Also Friday, world champion and defending gold medalist Bradley Wiggins of Britain broke the Olympic record in qualification for the men's 4,000 meters individual pursuit. The record was the one he himself set when he took the gold medal four years ago in Athens.

Hayden Roulston of New Zealand went through with the second-best time. Also through were Alexei Markov of Russia and up-and-coming American teenager Taylor Phinney.

British track manager Shane Sutton said it was "on the cards'' that Wiggins could break the world record held by Chris Boardman of 4:11.114, which has stood for 12 years.

"But he has got a pretty heavy program here,'' Sutton said. "I don't really want him to go for the record. He is here for three golds. But if it happens, it happens.''

Wiggins is also competing in the team pursuit and in the madison.

World championship silver medalist Jenning Huizenga of the Netherlands was knocked out, finishing last. Bradley McGee of Australia also failed to qualify.

In qualifying for the women's 3,000 meters individual pursuit, two British women - Wendy Houvenaghel and world champion Rebecca Romero - both set times three seconds faster than the rest of the field. Former world champions Sarah Hammer of the United States and Katie Mactier of Australia also qualified.

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Associated Press Writer Samuel Petrequin and AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.