The Welshman, a two-time Olympic and three-time world champion on the track who has ridden at five editions of the Tour de France, formed part of a crucial three man breakaway with 49 kilometres of the 168.24km course remaining before breaking clear early on the final lap.

With barely five kilometres left, the 28-year-old was forced to come to a halt due to a puncture, his second of the race, but managed to return to the road before his rivals could catch up.

He then surged clear to win by 81 seconds in 4 hours 13min 05sec from New Zealand's Jack Bauer, who edged a terrific sprint finish with England's Scott Thwaites.

"It was tough out there," said Thomas.

To be honest I felt terrible from the start, I was thinking about stopping I was just that bad, but everybody came down to my level by the end and I was able to make my move."

"I never expected to win.

"It was more out of pride for Wales."

It marked the fifth Welsh gold of the Games and the country's second victory in road cycling at any Commonwealth Games after Nicole Cooke won the women's race at Manchester 2002.

Geraint Thomas gradually overhauled longstanding leader Peter Kennaugh in the torrential rain ©Getty Images



In a fashion at odds with most road races, the contest began in a competitive sense in the opening kilometres as the Isle of Man's Peter Kennaugh, Thomas' Team Sky colleague and another member of Britain's London 2012 gold medal winning pursuit squad, launched an audacious break to go clear. 

The 25-year-old, who had already managed the only Manx medal of the Games with silver in the track points race, led for over 110km before markedly dropping his pace on the only climb of the 12 lap course, and being swiftly hauled in thereafter. 

It was ultimately a foolhardy attempt to do what is virtually impossible in top level cycling and win from the first pedal, but Kennaugh should be praised for his guts and determination, as well as the fact that, unlike all but 12 of the 128 starters, he managed to finish the race.

He eventually rode over the line over five minutes behind the winner in eighth position.

Scotland's Delhi 2010 runner-up David Millar finished 11th, while among those to pull out was England's individual time trial champion, Alex Dowsett. 

Lizzie Armistead crossed the line first to win the women's road race ©AFP/Getty Images



There was cause for English celebration in the women's race that preceded the men's affair as Armistead broke clear to win gold in similarly wet conditions to those when she won a silver medal at London 2012.

On that occasion, the 25-year-old was involved in a sprint for the line, but this time around she broke shortly after the 10km to go mark after latching on to the relentless pace set by compatriot Emma Pooley.

There was no stopping Armistead in upgrading the silver medal she took at Delhi 2010, as she surged clear to win by 25 seconds in 2:38:43.

Pooley was rewarded for her endeavour with a fine silver medal in the final race of her career.

It marked Pooley's second silver medal here in Glasgow following an identical finish in the individual time trial.

A further 46 seconds behind, Ashleigh Pasio was awarded bronze for South Africa after finishing inches ahead of Tiffany Cromwell of Australia following a thrilling sprint for the line.

While this finish, as well as the later men's race, was greeted by a smaller crowd than could have been expected in finer weather, thousands still took to the streets for a day which showcased the city and brought the curtain down on Glasgow 2014 in fine fashion.

Contact the writer of this story at nick.butler@insidethegames.biz


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