Rui Vieira/AP
Georgia Williams of New Zealand on her way towards a second Commonwealth Games medal.
A silver and a bronze already in her possession, Georgia Williams now seeks Commonwealth Games gold for the complete set.
The New Zealand cyclist was third in the women’s individual time trial on the roads of Wolverhampton on Thursday night (NZ time).
Williams was 1m 20.7s behind winner Grace Brown of Australia, with England’s Anna Henderson a comfortable second.
“A full set would be the dream,” said Williams, who claimed silver in the road race in 2018 on the Gold Coast and will again contest that event this weekend.
Williams is a full-time professional in Europe who will contest the Tour of Scandinavia after the Games and said she relished the chance to represent her country.
“I ride for my trade team [BikeExchange–Jayco] all year and don’t get to put on the Silver Fern very often. But when I do it’s amazing.
“It was a super-hard course, super technical. There was always something to focus on, whether it was a corner, a hill, a descent – but it did make it fun.
“I think I did everything I could.”
The 28-year-old, who arrived at the Games three days ago, said she was well aware of the success prior to her races of the NZ cycling team, which had won 15 medals on the track and in mountain biking.
SKY SPORT
Kiwi high jumper Hamish Kerr wins gold.
“Really motivating – and a little bit of pressure – I was happy to get one for the roadies.”
In the men’s event, Aaron Gate finished fourth, just one place away from gaining his fourth medal of the Games.
The winner on the track in the 40km points race, team and individual pursuit, Gate was almost two minutes back of bronze medallist Geraint Thomas of Wales in an action-packed race on the tight street course.
Gold was won by Australia’s Rohan Dennis, with Fred Wright of England taking silver after Thomas, the title favourite, skidded into a barrier and fell from his bike soon after he started, losing essential time.
“A lot of hills out there, a lot more than the velodrome,” Gate laughed soon after his race ended.
“It was a super-technical course – so many corners, a lot of technical descents, rough road surfaces, speed bumps, pavé and bricks … it was literally a course that had everything but a flat piece of road.”
Gate will also be part of the NZ men’s team in the road race starting on Sunday night (NZ time).
Discussion about this post