Cycling: Green and gold follows well-worn path

NZ cyclist Glen Mitchell pours water over himself in the men's road race yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

High hopes of a strong finish from the New Zealand cycling team remained just that after the Australians continued their domination with a one-three finish in yesterday's 166km men's road race.

Taking an armchair ride in a three-man break for the last four of 15 laps over the testing Botanical Gardens circuit, Mathew Hayman followed a well-worn path to victory after Natalie Bates' earlier triumph in the women's nine-lap affair.

Hayman, on his own after attacking South Africans Ryan Cox and David George 4km from the finish, had four seconds to spare in beating George home. Australian Allan Davis jumped out of the chasing pack to grab bronze.

England's Stephen Cummings was next across with the remnants of the peleton, led home by Gordon Fraser (Canada) and New Zealand's Greg Henderson, 13s back and 38s down on Hayman.

Peter Latham, the second New Zealander home, was in Henderson's bunch. Robin Reid was 21st and Glen Mitchell, the only other New Zealander to see it through, two places back.

In tailing the field as the last of the only 35 survivors (from 130 starters) 17m 24s behind Hayman, Yannick Lincoln (Mauritius) had the honour of being the last competitor to finish these Commonwealth Games.

It was a race dominated by the green and gold train as the Australians sought to make the race their own. For a time, the South Africans posed as party poopers.

They deserved better but were justly rewarded with silver after Hayman had happily allowed himself to be dragged along by Cox and Ryan for kilometre after relentless kilometre.

The New Zealanders were down on firepower but tried valiantly. Gordon McCauley, who was vomiting, pulled out after six laps. Logan Hutchings, a late replacement for Hayden Roulston, lasted one lap longer.

With the Australians and South Africans taking the controlling role, there was little the black brigade could do.

"It was so hot it was unbelievable," said Henderson after his brave bid. "I was throwing water over myself all the way. I think the black attracted the heat.

"I had great legs and was covering moves all day but got isolated down at the hairpin and needed some help. I had a couple of bids but it is hard to beat a world class field like this with world class teams.

"By the last 10km the gas tank was running on empty," said Henderson who was chasing a good result after a disappointing track campaign. "Full credit to my team. They tried to get me into the race."

But there was no catching the break as George, who had been strong throughout, Hayman and Cox maintained a solid pace out front.

The South Africans might have done better had they not lost teammate Rupert Rheeder in the fourth lap when he crashed into and then over a roadside barrier and was left with a suspected broken arm and cracked ribs.