Killeen earns England cycling Gold

Australia’s Chris Jongewaard has finished a gallant fourth in the Men’s Mountain Bike cross country, as England’s Liam Killeen mounted a last lap surge to usurp his competitors and win the Gold Medal in 2:13:11, at the State Mountain Bike Course at Lysterfield Park.

Countryman Oli Beckingsale ensured an English quinella with silver, finishing 15 seconds adrift, whilst Seamus McGrath of Canada earned Bronze for his second medal in consecutive Commonwealth games.

Australia’s Chris Jongewaard led the race for almost six laps as he set a cracking pace to leave his competitors in his wake, only to be run down with eight kilometres to go. Compatriot Sid Taberlay finished in the top ten to cap off a strong performance by the Australians.

Early on, Jongewaard rode away from a stagnant field to immediately earn a significant advantage over opposition riders. Kiwi Clinton Avery took the race up to the Australian, only to fade as Jongewaard amassed a 55 second lead at the end of the first lap to place himself in a great position to snare the Gold.

A group of chasing riders including Liam Killeen and Geoff Kabush mounted a fight back as they strived to peg back the lead of Jongewaard, who utilised his experience of the technical layout of the State mountain bike course at Lysterfield Park to his absolute advantage.

On the third lap, Jongewaard, a top 20 finisher in the general classification of the Tour Down Under, suffered a tyre puncture that cut his lead. Oli Beckingsale soon grew to prominence in the race and was relentless in his chase to wrestle back the gold medal.

Eventual Gold Medallist Killeen struggled to keep contact with the chasing pack before an inspired run propelled him back into contention, as he and Seamus McGrath overcame an early deficit made in roads into the lead of Jongewaard, who began to feel the effects of his early charge.

The chasing group of Beckingsale, McGrath and Killeen, continued to gain ground on the leading Australian, before they soon reeled Jongewaard in and usurped his leading position as the Australian began to tire.

During the final lap, the English pair of Killeen and Bechkingsale increased their lead as the gallant Seamus McGrath began to tail off, before Killeen increased the tempo again and left his countryman in his wake to earn Gold for England.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!