In true fashion, he did not seek excuses. “Sometimes, it’s simply bad luck,” he stated. “Today, I must accept responsibility as it was my own fault.” Thomas did mention that he was unable to ride the course on closed roads, as is the norm in larger races.
“I did the reconnaissance in traffic, so it was rather pointless, aside from knowing the terrain’s inclines and declines,” he explained, suggesting that this may have contributed to other crashes, including England’s Dan Bigham. But as he conceded, everyone faced the same challenges.
“It’s my fault. I was thinking, ‘it’s a sweeping left’ but suddenly there are barriers in the way and their legs are sticking out, and it’s ‘Oh s—!'”
When asked if this incident cost him the gold, Thomas essentially agreed. “Clearly, it’s not just the time spent on the ground, motionless,” he remarked. “My brake was bent at a right angle and the gear mechanism was off. But it was more of a mental setback.”
“However, I’ve become well-practiced in refocusing during time trials when something goes wrong. It’s frustrating, but ultimately, you know, with that happening, it’s good to come away with a medal.”
Thomas’s presence undoubtedly added a touch of stardust to an event that also featured a 46-year-old immigration officer from Walsall competing for the Falkland Islands, and a 48-year-old doorkeeper at the House of Commons racing for Ghana. Both finished around 16 minutes behind Thomas, who was highly sought-after for autographs, even by fellow riders. “It’s a bit strange when people come into the pen asking for photos with you when you’re competing against them,” Thomas commented. “But it’s great.”
Thomas’s crash was also advantageous for Wright. The 23-year-old cyclist from south London delivered what he described as “the best time trial of my career” and was thrilled with his silver medal. Coming straight from an outstanding performance in the Tour de France, where he frequently infiltrated the breakaway and finished second on one stage, Wright’s ride bodes well for his prospects in Sunday’s road race. Given the presence of Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man, most nations will be keen to avoid a sprint finish. “It won’t be your typical professional bike race with control,” Wright promised. “It’ll be attack after attack.”
Commonwealth Games day seven: Live Updates
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