Games-Baker takes gold as Australian cyclists continue to rule the roads

With Australia having already bagged gold in the women's and men's individual time trials on Thursday, Baker's win put the country in position for a sweep of the road races as well. Bolting from the pack at the end of a 112-km run through the West Midlands, Baker got to the line in two hours 44 minutes 46 seconds to collect her third gold of the Games, having also picked up titles on the track in the points race and team pursuit.

Georgia Baker won the Commonwealth Games women's road race cycling gold in a sprint finish on Sunday, as Australia continued to rule the Birmingham roads. With Australia having already bagged gold in the women's and men's individual time trials on Thursday, Baker's win put the country in position for a sweep of the road races as well.

Bolting from the pack at the end of a 112-km run through the West Midlands, Baker got to the line in two hours 44 minutes 46 seconds to collect her third gold of the Games, having also picked up titles on the track in the points race and team pursuit. "This one is extra special. It was a real team effort," said Baker. "I wish I could split this medal into six, it was real credit to the team and I'm glad I could pull it off for them.

"For them to nail the final lead out made my ride so easy. "I finished with fresh legs and that was the goal. I did the sprint and got my hands across the line."

The six-member Australia outfit controlled the race from the start, neutralizing any breakaway attempts on the flat route. A train of green-and-gold led the charge to the finish, with Scotland's Neah Evans, who helped Britain to win a silver medal in the team pursuit at the Tokyo Olympics, coming hard at the end to derail Australia's bid for a podium sweep by snatching the silver ahead of Sarah Roy.

"From the start of the race it was as if the race went the way we wanted," explained Baker. "If it was going to be a bunch sprint I would be sprinting. "If it was going to be an aggressive and hard race where the other nations were going to make it super hard, then potentially Alex (Manly) would be sprinting.

"We made the call out there with about 20km to go and I was feeling good so we stuck to the plan and the girls led me out beautifully." The men's race is later on Sunday, when Australia will again be among the favourites despite the absence of Rohan Dennis, the time-trial gold-medal winner.

Just before the start of the men's race, Australia Cycling said Dennis would not take part after he woke up on Saturday morning in discomfort and was taken to a local hospital to undergo tests. "As a precaution, Dennis was advised to withdraw from today's road race but remains comfortable and under observation," the team said in a statement.

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