After netting second in the recent world time trial championships, David Millar moved onto the top step of the podium when he triumphed in today’s TT at the Commonwealth Games. The 33 year old Scottish rider showed perfect pedalling style and aerodynamic efficiency, carving his way into a stiff headwind on the return leg to post a time significantly quicker than his rivals.
Millar, who usually competes with the Garmin Slipstream ProTour team, clocked 47 minutes 18.66 seconds on the pan flat, out-and-back course. He beat European time trial champion Alex Dowsett (England) by 54.82 seconds, and Luke Durbridge (Australia) by 1 minute 0.56 seconds. Northern Ireland's Michael Hutchinson was fourth in 49:32.90.
“It's been my big goal all year - it feels great,” said Millar, who said the heat was a factor. “It was hard. It was like being on a treadmill in a sauna.”
Millar rode strongly despite digging deep in Sunday’s road race. He took bronze there and thus ends the championship with two medals. It’s been a productive fortnight for the rider, who finished second behind Fabian Cancellara in the worlds TT two weeks ago.
The women’s time trial went to Tara Whitten, who won the Omnium and points race titles earlier this year in the world track championships. She used that speed to good effect today, clocking up a time of 38 minute 59.3 seconds on the 29 kilometre course. That was 4.85 seconds quicker that Linda Villumsen (New Zealand) and 10.22 faster than the 45 year old Englishwoman Julia Shaw.
“I'm really happy,” she said afterwards, according to the BBC. “It was the best day's racing I've ever had. It was really painful for the last 10km, but I knew I had to win so I was able to hold it together.”
World time trial champion Emma Pooley had suffered stomach problems in the run up to the race, and wasn’t really a factor today. She started below-strength due to the after-effects of that illness, and also found the course a little too flat for her abilities.
“I had no idea what to expect out here. As the race was happening I didn't really know how I was doing. I just tried to keep going,” she said. Pooley refused to blame her sickness for the disappointment. “The course didn't suit me and I didn't have a good ride,” she said.
Today’s race completes the cycling events in the Commonwealth Games. It’s been a hugely successful competition for Australian riders, who have clocked up 14 of the 18 gold medals on offer and showed that they are in the driving seat heading towards the London Olympics.