Their quartet of Elinor Barker, Katie Archibald, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell–Shand came into the day as the world record holders but saw their mark wiped away by the United States during their second round ride.

Sarah Hammer, Kelly Catlin, Chloe Dygert and Jennifer Valente clocked 4min 12.282sec to progress to the gold medal ride.

Britain, though, responded instantly, clocking 4:12.152 to beat Canada.

The small time gap between the two nations raised expectations of a similar contest to the thrilling men’s team pursuit final last night, where the British team pipped Australia to the gold medal.

It looked like living up to the high expectations when the United States, the reigning world champions, set off as the faster of the two teams in the opening kilometre of the 4km event.

The fluidity displayed by the British team during their first and second round world record rides was once again in evidence as they clawed back the deficit and opened up a narrow advantage of 0.931 seconds at the halfway stage.

There was no way back for the American team when they were reduced to three riders.

The British team roared across the line in a time of 4:10.236 to set another world record in the event, which was being held with four riders at the Olympics for the first time after being increased from three following London 2012.

While the US eventually ended 2.218 seconds down, it proved a testament to the strength of the British ride, with the Americans ending narrowly outside the previous world record.

“We had two years with the world title and two years without,” said Trott, who became the first British woman to three Olympic gold medals having won two at London 2012. 

"Those two years without it drove us to today.

"I think first it was about individuals riding around as one, not four individuals and I think that’s exactly what happened.

"I’ve never been in a team that feels so seamless.

"We knew a world record was on the cards but it almost felt unreal.

“I looked up and was like 'no' even though we had already broken the record in training, I didn’t believe we were going to do a world record.”

A strong ride from Canada saw them defeat New Zealand in the bronze medal ride after they clocked 4:14.627.

Doubts had been raised before the Games as to whether the British could replicate their seven gold hauls from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 but they have already assured themselves of four Olympic golds on the track.

It followed world champion Jason Kenny battling into the men’s individual sprint final, coming from one ride down to defeat Russia’s Denis Dmitriev.

He will now take on Callum Skinner, winner of the team sprint gold medal alongside Kenny two nights ago, after the Briton overcame Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer in straight rides.

The Netherlands were also able to celebrate their second cycling gold of these Olympics following Anna van der Breggen’s women’s road race success when Elis Ligtlee triumphed in the keirin.

Ligtlee, the European champion in the discipline, hit the front of the race with two laps remaining and injected a strong pace.

She maintained her effort to hold off the surging effort of Britain’s Becky James and the Australian track cycling great Anna Meares to claim the gold medal.

James, who has regained form after two years plagued by injury, claimed the silver medal ahead of Meares.