Melbourne (Australia) Commonwealth Games

 

March 15-26, 2006

British Cycling's Larry Hickmott reports
>Commonwealth Games Features Home Page

 

Second only to the Olympic Games in the eyes of the public, the Commonwealth Games is a major target for any athlete looking for international glory. After the success of the Games in Manchester 2002, all eyes are now on Melbourne, where historic rivalries between the home nations and the Commonwealth are once again centre stage. We are reporting direct from the games and bringing you all the action from the cycling events on BritishCycling.org.uk

 

 

March 26 (Road): Men's Road Race & Women's Road Race

 

Men's Road Race: on the face of it an all too familiar tale of Australian dominance. However, beneath the surface, a great race with some outstanding performances from home nation riders, South Africans and New Zealanders. Australia's Matt Hayman took the gold in the end - read all about it in our exclusive report.

 

Commonwealth Games Men's RR >>>>

 

 

 

 

 

Women's Road Race: Nicole Cooke said it was all about the "odds" - and she was right. The Aussies were holding the perfect hand almost from the off, but could she or the other home nation riders do something about it?

 

Commonwealth Games Women's RR >>>>

 

 

Post Race Reaction - plus images of the Day: Nicole Cooke and Steve Cummings reflect on their respective rides whilst Larry Hickmott picks his favourite images from a day of drama and excitement in the Melbourne sunshine.

 

Post Race Reactions and Images >>>>

 

 

March 23 (MTB): Men's Cross-Country & Women's Cross-Country

 

Men's Cross-Country: England's Liam Killeen and Oli Beckingsale won Gold and Silver in the men's Cross-Country Mountain Bike event at the baking hot Lysterfield Park on the edge of Melbourne. Killeen, from Malvern in Worcestershire, finished third in Manchester four years ago when he was just 20, and turned Commonwealth bronze into gold this time with a superb ride over the eight 6.4km laps of Victoria's State Mountain Bike Course.

 

29-year-old Beckingsale also rode brilliantly despite some mechanical problems as together the English pair chased down and swept past Australia's Chris Jongewaard, then shook off the challenge of the 2002 silver medallist, Canada's Seamus McGrath. Killeen finished in 2:13:11, just 15 seconds ahead of his team-mate and 32 seconds ahead of McGrath who took the bronze. What a day!

Commonwealth Games Men's MTB >>>>

 

More Post Race reaction: from Oli Beckingsale and Liam Killeen as they reflect on their superb performances after the race. Including details of them being given a few sharp words of advice as they battled with each other on the final climb. Plus, there's an insider's view of Liam's achievement from Gary Foord, his coach, who has some very interesting things to say about the new champion.

 

Cross-Country. Post-Race Reaction >>>>

 

Women's Cross-Country: World Cup star Marie-Helene Premont rode the rest of the field off her wheel to win the women's race, whilst behind her the big news was the superb fourth place for Amy Hunt, who showed a cool temperament and immense promise in finishing just six minutes down on the winner in trying conditions. As well as details of the race and Amy's reaction, we've got the England team's response to criticism of their selection policy for the race.

 

Commonwealth Games Women's MTB >>>>

 

PHOTOS: Pictures of the home nation riders:

Liam Killeen ; Oli Beckingsale ; Amy Hunt & Simon Richardson ;

Scotland's Riders ; Riders from Gunersey, Wales, Isle of Man & Northern Ireland ;

 

 

March 22 (MTB): Cross-Country Training Day

 

Training Day for Cross-Country: Today, under a cloudless blue sky at the MTB venue north east of Melbourne, some of the favourites in the Cross Country Mountain Bike event were seen at the course for last minute training.

 

We grab some words with Oli Beckingsale, Steven Roach and Julian Winn plus pictures of the Scottish, Isle of Man, Welsh and England riders. >>CG MTB Training Day

 

 

 

 

 

March 21 (Road): Men's Time Trial & Women's Time Trial

 

Australia dominated the Time Trials for the Commonwealth Games with five of the six medals with the other going to New Zealand. British Cycling brings you pictures of all the home nation riders plus reactions from our cyclists racing under a hot Australian sun on a course with a very English feel about it...

 

Photos, report and Results >>>

 

 

 

March 19 (Track): Women's Pursuit and Team Sprint & Men's Scratch Race

 

What a night for the Home Nations in the cycling at the Commonwealth Games with Gold Medals for Scotland and the Isle of Man and a silver and bronze for England. The night started with a bronze for Emma Davies-Jones in the Womens Pursuit and that was followed by an all Great Britain final to the Team Sprint where Scotland beat England by a whisker to take the Gold. Then, to top off a fantastic night, Mark Cavendish won the Scratch race and promptly dedicated it to the late James Berry who was killed recently whilst training with 'Cav'.

 

Day 4 Action (photos, report, reactions) >>>

 

 

March 18 (Track): Team Pursuit, Men's Sprint and Women's Sprint

 

Day three of the Commonwealth Games cycling and we had arguably the best action of the Games so far with the Women's Sprint competition a real standout. It was always going to come down to the Aussie Meares sisters against Victoria Pendleton and what a show they put on for us.

 

In the Men's Sprint, could anyone match the amazing Ryan Bayley and could Ross Edgar continue his medal winning ways after breaking his individual duck in the Keirin? And, of course, the Team Pursuit: would England continue their recent ascendancy over the Aussies? Would the New Zealanders have a say? What a day it was in Melbourne!

 

Day 3 Reports, Photos, Results >>>

 

March 17 (Track):Men's Keirin & Points Race and Women's 30km Points Race

 

With two Medals for Scotland and one for Wales on day 2 of the Commonwealth Games, there was plenty to cheer about at the Melbourne Velodrome. However, the Australian team had a fantastic day, taking all the golds and plenty more besides.

 

And whilst the Aussies were cheering, the England team was left empty handed as some great performances found little reward. Our congratulations go to Scotland's Kate Cullen (Women's Points bronze) and Ross Edgar (Keirin bronze) and Wales' Geraint Thomas (Men's Points Bronze).

 

Day 2 Reports, Photos Results >>>

 

March 16 (Track): Men's Pursuit, Kilometre and Women's 500m TT

 

The opening day of the Commonwealth Games for Cycling opened with the track time trial events and although it wasn't a perfect evening for the Home nations, a clean sweep by England in the Individual Pursuit, plus two Silvers and a Bronze, made it a good night for the Northern Hemisphere riders.

 

First medal went to Victoria Pendleton who was 2nd in the 500 metre Time Trial and this was followed by a Silver for Jason Queally and a Bronze for Chris Hoy in the kilometre. The icing on the cake though came in the final event of the evening when Paul Manning won Gold, Rob Hayles Silver and Steve Cummings Bronze in the Pursuit.  

Day 1 Reports, Photos & Results >>>