Jonathan Milan smashes individual pursuit world record at Track World Championships

Italian cyclist Jonathan Milan shattered his own world record in the individual pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai, China. The 26-year-old clocked a time of 3:58.850 during qualifying, becoming the first rider to clock under 3:59. Milan's previous record, set two years ago at the Track Worlds in Denmark, was 3:59.153.

The velodrome in Shanghai sits at sea level, so Milan did not benefit from the lower air density found at higher altitudes. The Italian, a two-time Tour de France stage winner riding for Lidl-Trek, will face Denmark's Frederik Madsen in the gold medal final later on Friday. Madsen qualified with a time of 3:59.979, becoming only the fifth rider to break the four-minute mark.

Milan's feat comes just two years after Great Britain's Josh Charlton set the world record at 3:59.304 at the 2024 Track Worlds, though that record was surpassed by Milan himself during the finals.