Commonwealth Games: Alex Dowsett wins time-trial gold as Geraint Thomas takes bronze
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 31/07/14 5:54pm
England's Alex Dowsett produced a late rally to claim gold in a closely fought men's time trial at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Wales' Geraint Thomas took bronze.
Dowsett stopped the clock on a 38.4km course in a time of 47min 42sec, which was nine seconds faster than second-placed Rohan Dennis, of Australia, and 14 seconds ahead of Thomas.
Dowsett had narrowly been the fastest man through both of the first two checkpoints, at 6.4km and 17.1km, but then Dennis moved into the lead at the third and fourth splits, at 26.4km and 32km, with Dowsett now trailing 5.2 seconds behind in third.
However, the 25-year-old from Essex recovered superbly in the final sector and moved back ahead of both Dennis and Thomas to add a gold medal to the time-trial silver he won at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Millar struggles
Scotland's David Millar, the home favourite and defending champion, was off the pace from the outset and had to be content with eighth place, 2min 14sec down on the winner.
"I thought it was all over," Dowsett admitted afterwards. "I was struggling in the last 10km, but everyone was struggling. Gladly everyone was struggling a little bit more than I was.
"I can't describe just how happy I am with that today. It goes a lot deeper than simply winning the gold medal of the Commonwealth Games. I fought like I have never fought before - no one wanted that more than me today. This will be a career highlight for me, regardless of what I do from here on in."
It was a bitter disappointment not being selected for the Tour de France. The Commonwealth Games was a big target for me anyway, but it suddenly became a huge target.
Alex Dowsett
Dowsett's victory went some way to making up for missing out on selection for Movistar's Tour de France team.
Tour blow
The Essex rider had been earmarked for the nine-man squad but fell ill in the in the weeks leading up to the race and subsequently had to be omitted.
"It was a bitter disappointment not being selected for the Tour de France," Dowsett added. "I spent the whole month fairly angry, not at anyone in particular, just angry at the situation.
"The Commonwealth Games was a big target for me anyway, but it suddenly became a huge target. It was my next focus and I really wanted to do something big after the disappointment of the Tour de France.
"I usually pull something fairly big out the bag when I'm really angry. I had a point to prove to myself. I know I was worthy of that Tour place. I was unlucky when I got ill."
Men’s Commonwealth Games time-trial result
1 Alex Dowsett (Eng), +47:42
2 Rohan Dennis (Aus), +9
3 Geraint Thomas (Wal), +14
4 Svein Tuft (Can), +51
5 Jesse Sergent (NZ), +52
6 Michael Hepburn (Aus), +1:29
7 Steve Cummings (Eng), +1:33
8 David Millar (Sco), +2:14
9 Luke Durbridge (Aus), +2:15
10 James McLaughlin (Ggy), +2:57
