Baker takes gold in women's cycling road race

Australian Georgia Baker won the Commonwealth Games women's road race cycling gold in a sprint finish on Sunday, while New Zealand's Aaron Gate won the men's road race.

Calendar | Schedule | Results | Medals | TV Guide | Watch on DStv

Baker's win came after the Australians bagged gold in the women's and men's individual time trials on Thursday but their hopes of also taking the men's road race faded when time-trial winner Rohan Dennis withdrew.

Baker, bolting from the pack at the end of a 112-km run through the West Midlands, got to the line in two hours 44 minutes 46 seconds to collect her third gold of the Games, having also picked up titles on the track in the points race and team pursuit.

"This one is extra special. It was a real team effort," said Baker. "I wish I could split this medal into six, it was real credit to the team and I'm glad I could pull it off for them.

"For them to nail the final lead out made my ride so easy.

"I finished with fresh legs and that was the goal. I did the sprint and got my hands across the line."

The six-member Australia outfit controlled the race from the start, neutralising any breakaway attempts on the flat route.

A train of green-and-gold led the charge to the finish, with Scotland's Neah Evans, who helped Britain to win a team pursuit silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, coming hard at the end to derail Australia's bid for a podium sweep by snatching the silver ahead of Sarah Roy.

"From the start of the race it was as if the race went the way we wanted," explained Baker. "If it was going to be a bunch sprint I would be sprinting.

"If it was going to be an aggressive and hard race where the other nations were going to make it super hard, then potentially Alex (Manly) would be sprinting.

"We made the call out there with about 20km to go and I was feeling good so we stuck to the plan and the girls led me out beautifully."

GATE WINS MEN'S ROAD GOLD IN DRAMATIC SPRINT FINISH

Gate won the men's road gold after he used his fast sprint finish to wrap up the 160-km race in three hours 28 minutes 29 seconds.

It was his fourth gold medal of the Games after he dominated in the velodrome and won the individual pursuit, points race and was part of New Zealand's team pursuit gold-medal winning team.

"It's going to take a while to sink in. Three felt great and I was super happy with that," Gate said.

"I came here today and managed to help the team and if the opportunity arose to go for a fourth one, I just had to grab it with both hands. It feels absolutely phenomenal."

South Africa's Daryl Impey took the silver, while Scotland's Finn Crockett won bronze.

Geraint Thomas of Wales, who won the 2018 Tour de France, produced a solo attack with less than two kilometres remaining, but he was pulled back by the England and Australia riders and finished eighth.

Thomas said after the race that it was his last Games appearance.

"I might wear it (the Welsh jersey) around Cardiff, but I am not going to make another Commies," Thomas said. "It's nice to end, well end empty. I gave it all I had. I am proud to wear this jersey for the last time."

Dennis did not start the race after Australia Cycling said that he had woken up on Saturday morning in discomfort and been taken to a local hospital to undergo tests.

"As a precaution, Dennis was advised to withdraw from today's road race but remains comfortable and under observation," the team said in a statement.