CHRIS BOARDMAN cruised into the semi-finals of the 4,000 metres individual pursuit at the World Track Championships in Manchester yesterday.
He easily won his quarter-final, although his time was just outside the astonishing world record he set in his heat earlier in the morning.
Boardman clocked 4 minutes 14.784 seconds as he caught Russian rival Edouard Gritsoun bang on the three-kilometre mark.
The 28-year-old's time was just 1 1/2 seconds slower than his world record of 4:13.353 set when he sliced over six seconds off the mark established by Italian Andrea Collinelli at the Olympic Games last month.
The father of four again used the superman style of riding invented by fellow Briton Graeme Obree to devastating effect, and has now clocked the two fastest times in history with his closest challenger three seconds slower.
Boardman will now meet another Russian, Alexei Markov, in today's semi-finals while Collinelli will face Frenchman Francis Moreau.
Boardman was easily the fastest qualifier and is odds-on favourite to regain the world title he last won in 1994 in the final today.
Boardman again trailed his rival in the first kilometre before turning on the power and completing an easy victory.
Ireland's Philip Collins finished 13th in a personal best time of 4 mins 36.942 secs.
