Aussie Meyer wins road cycling gold at Commonwealth Games to start Day 6
Related Story: WA cyclist Cameron Meyer back on track
Australia's world champion track cyclist Cameron Meyer has added Commonwealth Games gold on the road to his lengthy list of accomplishments, with victory in the men's individual time trial.
Meyer, who also has a Tour Down Under crown to his name and stage wins in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, clocked a time of 48 minutes and 13.04 seconds, as he expertly negotiated the tricky 38.5-kilometre course in Currumbin to add another gold to Australia's tally.
His victory came just two days after he was fourth in the points race on the track at the Anna Meares Velodrome, where he had also finished 10th in the scratch race.
The 30-year-old, who only decided to contest the individual time trial a fortnight ago, said he was determined to make up for the disappointment of missing the podium in the points race.
"There's so much motivation going around after the first week with other athletes winning gold," said Meyer, who won the world championship in the points race last month in the Netherlands.
"I missed my target in the points race, so I did have fire in my belly going out there today, and it couldn't have gone better."
Harry Tanfield was briefly on top of the standings before Meyer hit the finish line, with the Englishman claiming silver a tick over 30 seconds adrift of the Australian in 48:43.30.
New Zealand's Hamish Bond, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in rowing, continued his successful switch to road cycling to win bronze, just over 32 seconds behind Meyer, while Australia's Callum Scotson was fourth.
Meyer has won nine world championships across different events on the track, while he was already a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist but never before on the road.
He is set to contest the road race in Currumbin on Saturday.
Bond, who won Olympic rowing gold in London and Rio in the men's coxless pairs, had sat in the leader's chair for over an hour before he was replaced by Tanfield in the provisional gold medal position.
"I'm so pleased to be on the podium with other quality riders. I couldn't have done better," Bond said.
Aside from winning Olympic gold, Bond also has seven world championships to his name in the coxless pairs and fours events.
Scotson could not take a trick early in his ride, having sustained a tyre puncture on his back wheel.
He was forced to stop as team officials rushed to replace the wheel but the delay of about 15 to 20 seconds cost him dearly.
"It was a little bit my fault," Scotson said.
"I went out too far when the stones were on the road and punctured the tyre. I had to try not to panic and waste time.
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