Despite facing obstacles on a flat 160km course, the talented cyclist and Glasgow 2014 champion, Geraint Thomas, managed to secure a spot in the final selection of the day. However, without any team support, Thomas had to exhaust his energy chasing down moves. Displaying his determination, Thomas attempted a solo attack within the last 2km rather than relying on a sprint finish. Unfortunately, Team England, with three riders in the group, including Fred Wright, caught up to him.
In the sprint for the finish line, it was South Africa’s Daryl Impey who emerged as the second-place finisher, with Finn Crockett from Scotland securing the third spot. The gold, however, went to New Zealander Aaron Gate.
The Scottish cyclists also had a commendable performance, with Neah Evans unexpectedly clinching a silver medal in the women’s race. Georgia Baker from Australia took the gold.
Evans, known for her expertise in track cycling, had previously won Olympic silver in Tokyo alongside Laura Kenny in the team pursuit event. Last week, she earned a silver in the points race and a bronze in the team pursuit at the velodrome. Reflecting on her achievement in the road race, Evans admitted, “I surprised myself. I hadn’t competed in a road race for quite a few years.”
Thomas, who had recently finished third at the renowned Tour de France, achieving a full set of podium finishes at the prestigious race, had a reasonable response to his final appearance for Wales. He confessed, “It was a challenging race out there. The course wasn’t exactly tailored to my strengths. It required a burst of speed and explosiveness. I gave it my all, but unfortunately, I was the sole representative from Wales. It would have been better with another teammate.”
Thomas humorously remarked, “I’m not particularly explosive, and after completing the grueling Tour de France, I definitely feel like I have a diesel engine now.”
Looking ahead, Thomas confirmed that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games would mark his final participation in the event. He stated, “I might wear this Welsh jersey around Cardiff, but I won’t be attending another Games. I’m proud to wear this jersey for the last time.”
Another notable cyclist who may not be seen in four years’ time is Mark Cavendish. The Manxman, who would have been a strong contender in a bunch sprint or had he made it to the final selection, faced disappointment as neither scenario unfolded.
Earlier in the day: Recap of events. . .
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