Thomas Wins Commonwealth Gold

Last updated : 03 August 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Geraint Thomas has won the Commonwealth Games Mens Road Race.

140 riders took on a 168km course around Glasgow City Centre on a very wet Sunday lunchtime and it was British Road Race Champion Peter Kennaugh of the Isle Of Man who shot off on the first of twelve laps of a fourteen kilometre course to take a thirty second lead over Australians Rohan Dennis and Jack Bauer at the end of the first lap.

As riders started to abandon including Ian Stannard, Kennaugh extended his lead over the climb of Montrose Street and the cobbled sections over the peloton as a chase group of Tuft, Haas and Hawkins tried to bridge him.

That attack failed and Pelletier tried to get after Kennaugh but gave up after seeing that the Manx Man was forty nine seconds ahead.

With nine laps to go, Kennaugh was 1.20 ahead of Dennis, Harrison and Clarke.

Into Buchannan Street and watched by big crowds and Rohan Dennis went down into a corner and was forced to abandon.

Hepburn took over the chase of Kennaugh who was ahead by 1.47 after 56.1kms.

Alex Dowsett of England, Andy Fenn of Scotland and Mark Christian of the Isle Of Man all abandoned after 70kms as Kennaugh kept his lead at 1.45.

With 98.1 kilometres completed, Kennaugh was 1.51 and showing no signs of wanting to be caught despite the pouring rain and horrendous conditions, despite Nathan Haas, shooting off the front of the peloton in persuit.

Into the final fifty kilometres and there was left than twenty riders left in the race as the gap came down to 37 seconds thanks to some excellent work from Geraint Thomas of Wales.

Scott Thwaties, Jack Bauer and Geraint Thomas finally bridged to Kennaugh, who had been out in front for 117kms.

The Manxman was soon distanced by this trio who took a 27 second lead over Caleb Ewan of Australia who was one of a number of riders who failed to pick up drinks and food at the feedzone.

Dan Craven crashed into a barrier but Thwaites, Bauer and Thomas carried on up front as Nathan Haas abandoned.

Kennaugh, Russ Downing and Luke Rowe were in a second group, some 1.07 back.

Thwaites led Bauer and Thomas over the line after three and a half hours of racing to start the penultimate lap. Simon Clarke and Mark Renshaw and joined Kennaugh's group which was 1.40 behind the front three.

Onto the final lap and Bauer was in front of Thwaites and Thomas, some three minutes ahead of a second which now included Greg Henderson as well as Kennaugh and Downing.

With 11.6kms to go, Geraint Thomas attacked and got the gap that he had been looking for.

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Thomas was away but with 6.5kms, he suffered a front puncture. The Welshman was able to get it changed from a neutral service wheel but his lead was cut down to twenty seconds.

Thomas, the only British rider to finish the 2014 Tour De France got his head down and went under the flam rouge heading for the finish at Glasgow Green.

There was a smile on the Welshman's face as Thomas rode into the finishing straight and took the victory and the Gold Medal in 4.13.05.

Thwaites led out the sprint but it was Bauer who took the silver medal 1.21 behind Thomas with a bronze for England's Scott Thwaites.

Russel Downing of England was fourth with Mark Renshaw fifth.  

England's Lizzie Armitstead won the Women's race.