#Glasgow2014: Sunderland Wins Commonwealth Games Gold
Western Australian Institute of Sport cyclist Scott Sunderland has defended his men’s 1km time trial title after breaking the Commonwealth record for gold in Glasgow.
As defending champion, Sunderland had to wait until last to take to the track for competition, by which time he’d seen New Zealander Michael Archibald break his 2010 Commonwealth record with a lightening time of 1:01.162.
Having switched to endurance events post London Olympics, Sunderland altered his training schedule to ensure he could defend his Commonwealth title, and the Busselton born athlete didn’t disappoint, clocking a new Commonwealth Games record time of 1:00.675 for victory.
It was a text book performance from Sunderland, riding a big gear, he built up towards top pace, and moved up the rankings over the four lap splits, moving from fifth, fourth, third to most importantly first as he crossed the finish line, with a new Commonwealth record.
Archibald eventually settled for bronze, with silver going to Simon van Velthooven.
Earlier:
In the women’s scratch race, WA’s Melissa Hoskins rode a team role in support of gold medallist Annette Edmondson.
The 10km endurance race featured three Australians, with Amy Cure also competing, and claiming silver. Cure and Hoskins had been charged with monitoring breaks and challenges for Edmondson, with Cure also serving as the gold medallists’ lead-out rider to the finish line.
Such was the success of Cure’s lead-out, she managed to establish a gap on the field and hold on for second place, with Wales’ Elinor Barker winning bronze. Hoskins finished 15thoverall.
Hoskins will also ride the women’s 25km points race before switching focus to road, where she will ride the women’s road race for Australia, where she will likely again provide a support role.