Argentina's Juan Curuchet and Walter Perez grabbed Olympic gold in the men's Madison in Beijing on Tuesday when all three medals were decided on the last lap's 10th and final sprint.

Spain finished second to take the silver with Russia winning the bronze.

Britain's pursuit and team pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins, aiming for a record-breaking third gold medal of the Beijing Games, was never in contention with teammate Mark Cavendish.

Argentina's pairing was a constant threat for their rivals in the 50km, 200-lap race where points can be won at intermediate sprints.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish were never in contention.

Photo: Graham Watson

The Argentineans finished with only eight points, but that was enough to keep Spain, on seven, down in second place.

The Russian duo of Mikhail Ignatyev and Alexey Markov finished with six as all the other teams, including Britain, finished variously with more points but crucially a lap behind the podium finishers.

The Argentineans took a full five points for winning the third sprint, and after the fourth sprint they managed to gain a lap on the field.

Spain’s Joan Llaneras, Antonio Tauler and the Russians then went on to lap the field, allowing them a cushion.

Spain’s Joan Llaneras lapped the field with Antonio Tauler and the Russians.

Photo: Graham Watson

It means Spain's former seven-time world champion Llaneras, who won the points race, will go home with a silver and a gold. The 39-year-old previously won silver in Athens and gold in Sydney, both from the points race.

The British finished way down the field. It meant that Wiggins will not become the Olympics' all-time leading medals winner from track cycling.

Wiggins won his sixth Olympic medal, a gold, from the team pursuit on Monday to equal the all-time number of medals won in track - previously held by American Burton Downing, who won all six of his medals at St Louis in 1904, an Olympic Games contested only by Americans.