James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent have suffered an unexpected defeat at the World Cup regatta at Lucerne.

The Olympic gold medallists were beaten in their heat of the coxless pairs - their first-ever defeat.

The world champions were drawn alongside Drew Ginn and James Tomkins, the Australians who took Olympic gold six years ago in Atlanta in the coxless fours.

With only the heat winners guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, the Australians went off fast and were 0.25 seconds ahead at the 500 metre mark.

Pinsent and Cracknell pushed on hard and took the lead at the halfway mark, but Ginn and Tomkins came back and crossed the line more than a second clear of their rivals

The British pair now face an extra race in the repechages on Saturday if they are to set up a rematch with the Australians in Sunday's final.

The Great Britain mens eights start their campaign in the third of three heats on Friday afternoon.