Cycling’s attention at the 2018 Commonwealth Games switches from the track to the road, with four more gold medals set to be decided and Australia a strong chance in all of them, including the men’s Individual Time Trial. Join The Roar for live coverage and updates from 10am (AEST).
Being raced on an out-and-back course around the Currumbin beachfront, the cyclists will go in three groups across the course of the day.
Running through Tallebudgera and the Currumbin Valley, there will be plenty of challenges to keep the field interested, with effort management over the 38-kilometre course imperative.
Unfortunately, the field has been significantly weakened by the Spring Classics, with many riders taking the decision to not interrupt their campaigns for a trek down under.
Australia are left in pole position for this race though, with Callum Scotson – who will leave the start house mid-pack – the favourite. The 21-year-old is the current under 23 national champion of Australia and is currently in his first year racing with the Michelton-Scott squad.
On top of his national championship this year, he finished fifth at the world junior championships in the time trial discipline last year and could well be one of Australia’s best up-and-coming cyclists.
Winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal would be the biggest accolade of his career to date though. The other Aussie in the field is Cameron Meyer, who probably won’t challenge for the medals after a demanding track programme.
Former New Zealand rower Hamish Bond is also expected to finish at the top end of the field. Coming from a background where pain and suffering were normal on the rowing boat, he will be well equipped to push into the red zone and proved it by winning the recent Oceania Championships time trial.
23-year-old Englishman Harry Tanfield is also considered a chance, rapidly improving on the time trial bike after a strong showing at the national championships last year. Others who could pull off an upset include John Archibald (Scotland), Ian Bibby (England), Luke Rowe (Wales) and James Oram (New Zealand).
Prediction
It’s hard to see the favourite being beaten here. He has shown good form this year and will be difficult to stop on a course which should suit him down to the ground. I’d expect Tanfield to be his closest competitor.
Callum Scotson to deliver another cycling gold for Australia.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Commonwealth Games men’s Individual Time Trial from 10am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Wal
Roar Guru
Cheers Scott, A big shout out to Hamish Bond who after 8 consecutive World Championships and 2 Olympic in Rowing Gold. An 8-year unbeaten run. To chuck it all in and take up Cycling at 32 finishing 3rd in the commonwealth is a hell of an effort.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Unsure Froome would be very welcome here at the moment :)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me today on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as Cameron Meyer won gold for Australia in the men's time trial. Hopefully you enjoyed it. I'll be back at 4:30pm (AEST) for hockey as the Kookaburras take on Canada. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No dramas. Thanks for tuning in.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FINAL STANDINGS - TOP 25 1. Cameron Meyer (Australia) - 48.13.04 [GOLD] 2. Harry Tanfield (England) - 48.43.30 [SILVER] 3. Hamish Bond (New Zealand) - 48.45.45 [BRONZE] 4. Callum Scotson (Australia) - 49.35.65 5. James Oram (New Zealand) - 49.40.72 6. James McLaughlin (Guernsey) - 49.54.12 7. Marcus Cristie (Northern Ireland) - 50.42.29 8. Charlie Tanfield (England) - 50.42.83 9. Ian Bibby (England) - 50.43.88 10. Brendon Davis (South Africa) - 51.44.00 11. John Archibald (Scotland) - 52.01.35 12. Sebastian Tremlett (Guernsey) - 52.10.73 13. Joseph Areruya (Rwanda) - 52.24.16 14. Jay Lamoureux (Canada) - 52.46.99 15. Peter Kibble (Wales) - 52.55.24 16. Mark Stewart (Guernsey) - 52.55.32 17. Jack English (Guernsey) - 53.07.65 18. Derek Gee (Canada) - 53.11.86 19. Dirk Coetzee (Namibia) - 53.16.85 20. Andreas Miltiadis (Cyprus) - 53.16.94 21. Jake Kelly (Isle of Man) - 53.23.94 22. Samuel Brand (Isle of Man) - 53.45.77 23. Jack Rebours (Jersey) - 53.45.80 24. Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda) - 54.06.50 25. Xeno Young (Northern Ireland) - 54.07.66
Kris
Guest
I would have thought Froome, A.Yates, S.Yates, Porte, Dennis, Ewan, Bennett, Impey and Meintjes could all have afforded the trip and non are classics racers.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bibby will move into ninth. That should lock in the final top ten, so I'll have that for you in just a moment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, all the guys who started behind and were passed by Meyer will come over the line now. Not going to change the medals. Top ten not quite locked in yet, with Davids moving in there now and Ian Bibby still a contender to do so.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GOLD! GOLD FOR CAMERON MEYER! Australia have another cycling gold medal. He knows it coming through 200 metres to go as well. The grimace turns into a smiled and Cameron Meyer is the winner of the men's Individual Time Trial! What a superb ride this has been. He managed it well all the way home and will win it by half a minute!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Meyer around that tight final corner and he navigates it well. Meyer has about 1 minute and 5 seconds to do 600 metres.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cameron Meyer on the way in now. He has about a minute and 40 seconds now to get home. It's going to come down to the wire I suspect.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Callum Scotson down to third for now as well. He could be about to get knocked out of the medals though with Cameron Meyer still on the road.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tanfield coming up to the line now. He will go to the top of the charts by just 2.15 seconds. He lost some more seconds on that final stanza, but Harry Tanfield goes to the top, knocks McLaughlin out of the medals and Hamish Bond down to second.
delbeato
Roar Guru
It's not just race-by-race comparison of course, it's the cost of a trans-continental flight. I think if it were local we'd see more top guns here.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Awful error by team mechanic. Unforgivable.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cameron Meyer is flying! He has done those climbs excellently and got back into the rhythm well, now leading Tanfield by 25 seconds with five kilometres to go. Meyer the favourite to win it from here if he can keep the pace up.
Kris
Guest
The reason most of them aren't here is because it is a minor competition. Regardless of what their employers 'require' no one would choose to ride this event over a world tour race.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Meyer is a beast though. He seems to have struggled with motivation in recent years but has refocused. He's just through -25 secs. as I write.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Harry Tanfield has gone to the top of the charts at the third checkpoint here. Just three seconds in it, but it's a shock to see him still at the top after looking so laboured on the climbs coming back from Tallebudgera.