Dutch track cycling star Theo Bos on Saturday set a new world record for the 200 metres flying start in a time of 9.772 seconds.

Bos set the new benchmark during the second leg of the track cycling World Cup here, smashing the 11-year record of Canadian Curt Harnett, who clocked 9.865 seconds at altitude in Bogota, Colombia, on September 28, 1995.

Bos, the 23-year-old world champion in the men's coveted speed events of the sprint and keirin, came close to topping Harnett's record in the morning heats for Saturday's race, in a time of 9.892.

That time was the fastest ever recorded at sea level.

Hours later Bos, who was not using his best bike for the event, surprised even himself by clocking 9.774, which was finally corrected to 9.772 by officials.

According to Dutch agency ANP, Bos, who will be a major favourite at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, will soon have a new, hi-tech track bike which should allow him to go even faster.

At Athens in 2004, the flying Dutchman won silver in the sprint.