The Australian Cycling Team, Cyclones, dominated at the Dehli Commonwealth Games with 14 gold medals from 18 events contested.
Yesterday 19 year old Luke Durbridge claimed a bronze medal in the road time trial to give the Aussie cyclists a total of 21 medals made up of 14 gold, three silver and four bronze medals. On the track Australia claimed twelve of the 14 gold medals presented and on the road won two of the four events on the schedule.
‘Turbo Durbo’ was a last minute addition to the Cyclones team for Delhi and arrived in great form having claimed the silver medal in the U23 time trial at the recent World Championships. He also raced on the track in support of gold medalist Cameron Meyer in the points race and played a role in Allan Davis‘ road race victory. But the final day of cycling competition gave the West Australian teenager a chance to ride for himself and he rose to the challenge. His time was a minute slower than the winning pace of Scotland’s David Millar, who covered the 40km race against the clock in 47:18.66. England’s Alex Dowsett was only six seconds quicker than Durbridge to secure the silver medal. Millar was second in the elite men’s time trial at the World Championships while both Dowsett and Durbridge stepped up from U23 ranks to ride ten kilometres further than they usually race over.
Aussie young-gun Rohan Dennis also put in an excellent performance to finish sixth.
Earlier in the day South Australia’s Alexis Rhodes just missed the medals with her fourth place in the women’s 29km event. Canada’s Tara Whitten won in 38:59.30 with New Zealand’s Linda Villumsen second and England’s Julia Shaw in the bronze medal position. Despite suffering heat stress as the temperature soared past 40 degrees, Vicki Whitelaw, hung on to finish in seventh position whilst team mate Ruth Corset was 12th.
Source: Cycling Australia
