New Zealand cyclist Sarah Ulmer capped this month's domination of the 3000m individual pursuit by winning the world title.

Melbourne's Katie Mactier gave Australia its first medal after three days of competition at the world track championships when she won silver in the gold medal ride-off against Ulmer.

As usual, Mactier went out hard early and led Ulmer, who broke the world record in qualifying, by 2.133 seconds at one kilometre.

But Ulmer patiently reeled in her friend from there and was only .383 off the pace at 2000m, taking the lead for good soon after.

Ulmer won in three minutes 31.778, well up on Mactier's 3:34.859.

Ulmer went within three-tenths of the world record of the old world mark of Dutch legend Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel earlier this month at the World Cup event in Sydney.

On Friday she reduced that record from 3:30.816 to 3:30.604 and posted the fastest time in the first round.

The bronze medal went to Russian Elena Tchalykh, who posted 3:34.199 to beat compatriot Olga Slyusareva by nearly three seconds.

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