NSWIS cyclist Kaarle McCulloch has fallen agonisingly short of a fourth straight women’s team sprint world title after a tense battle with Germany at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

McCulloch joined compatriot Anna Meares in the women’s team sprint, with many expecting the Australian duo to come up against arch-rivals Great Britain in the pre-Olympic showdown. However, the clash was not to be with Great Britain failing to make the final.

Instead McCulloch teamed with Meares to tackle Germany, and the final did not disappoint. After a scintillating first lap the Germans powered home to clock a new world record of 32.549, defeating Australia by 0.04 seconds, to take gold and an edge into the 2012 London Olympic Games.