Australia has claimed a silver medal in the men's team sprint on the opening night of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai.

The Australian trio of Leigh Hoffman, Ryan Elliott and Danny Barber finished runner-up to the Netherlands in the final.

It was Australia's fifth consecutive World Championships medal in the event.

"For the final, we made a minor change in strategy," Hoffman said.

"We just tried to have a little gamble, and it almost paid off.

"We were up to the 500-metre mark, so we definitely gave the Dutch a run for their money.

"It's definitely bittersweet to miss out on the [winner's] rainbow bands, but considering last year was a bronze and this year we have silver, I think this team is on the way up."

Australia won a first-round duel against a British team missing Matt Richardson.

He was withdrawn from the British squad earlier in the week over alleged misconduct.

Richardson won three Olympic medals for Australia before switching allegiance to Great Britain after the 2024 Paris Games.

In other results in Shanghai, Australia's Kristina Clonan, Molly McGill and Alessia McCaig finished seventh in the women's team sprint.

ABC/AAP