Track Cycling at the Olympic Velodrome – in pictures

The Olympic Velodrome opened its doors to riders from around the world on Thursday for the inaugural event at the new track since its completion last February. The velodrome took three years to build and is the most sustainable of all the Olympic venues in terms of design and construction thanks to features such as a 100% natural ventilation system Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

What's more, 6,000 spectators attended on the first day – a capacity crowd. The majority of them watched from the permanent seating level which rings the track and a further 2,500 from temporary tiers which flank the straights Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The capacity crowd would have seen the British men's pursuit qualify in second place Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

As did the women's pursuit team featuring Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell and Wendy Houvenaghel Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The Australia men's team seemed to enjoy the conditions – here they are on their way to first place Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

This view from one of the upper tiers captures the Hong Kong team in action Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The exterior of the velodrome is a sweeping curve mirroring the track within Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The veoldrome is located adjacent to the Olympic basketball arena, another distinct piece of architecture Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

On day two, the men's team sprinters are in action. Here, the French, led by Gregory Bauge and followed by Mickael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau, near the end of their first qualifying lap. They finished first in qualifying Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The GB duo of Jason Kenny (right) and Chris Hoy strap up their shoes before competing with Ross Edgar in the men's team sprint. Edgar's place in the team is still uncertain and after today's performance that uncertainty remains; they finished fourth in qualifying. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The crowd watches the action unfurl in the men's omnium qualifying Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

A crash during qualification means the track needs some minor repairs Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

In the women's team sprint, Victoria Pendleton prepares to start in her qualifying with team-mate Jess Varnish. The made it through to the final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The strain shows on the face of Jess Varnish as she and partner Victoria Pendleton pull away from the start line in the women's team sprint final against Australia Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

They put in a superlative performance to set a new world record of 32.754 seconds as they beat Kaarle McCulloch and Anna Meares to take gold Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Team GB also beat Australia in the men's team sprint which gave Ross Edgar, Jason Kenny and Chris Hoy the bronze medal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Laura Trott, Jo Rowsell and Danii King of Team GB prepare themselves ahead of the women's team pursuit final against Canada Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

They must have been inspired by Pendleton and Varnish as Rowsell, Trott and King put in a steady but powerful performance to take gold with a record time of 3min 18.148sec which takes almost 1.5sec off the previous best time Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Day three sees Victoria Pendleton riding solo in the women's sprint qualifying where she finished fourth. After Friday's performance, the fans are even more interested in Team GB's golden girl Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The Japan coach struggles to keep his rider upright as they wait for the derny in the first round of the men's kierin Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Round the derny comes and the riders follow him as they pick up the pace Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Chris Hoy is cheered on by the home crowd as powers his way through the field ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

... and they continue cheering as he completes his victory lap after winning his heat Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

On Friday they were team-mates but day three sees Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish facing each other in the women's sprint quarter-finals, and it was Pendleton who triumphed Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

However Pendleton's winning streak comes to an end in the semi-final where she was up against her old nemesis Anna Meares. The Australian sprints away to win the third and deciding leg Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The six competitors in the men's kierin final are paced by the derny Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Once the riders are left on their own Hoy puts down the power and goes around the outside ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

... and crosses the line first to take gold Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Ben Swift finished sixth in the men's omnium, winning the scratch race to move himself into medal contention before slipping back with an 11th-place ride in the kilo Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian