Time trial gold for David Millar
David Millar, the cyclist from Scotland won the first ever gold medal for his country in the road cycling event held at the Delhi Commonwealth Games where he also achieved the “time trial” title. Alex Dowsett finished second and claimed the silver medal
while Luke Durbidge fell for the bronze.
33-years old Millar, who was banned from participating in the cycling competitions in 2006 for having been found using a banned drug also won a bronze medal in a road race event during the Delhi games.
On the women’s side, Julia Shaw hit the headlines when the 45-years old cyclist made her debut at the games and won a bronze medal in the time trial for a distance of over 29 kilometers.
Millar, the gold medalist at Delhi Commonwealth Games would not be able to participate into the coming Olympics which are going to be organized in England amid the drug bans. However, the cyclist had been given the special dispensation by the Commonwealth
Games Scotland to take part in the Delhi event.
During his road side competition, it took him 47 minutes and 18.66 seconds to cover the distance of 40 kilometers before his 22-year old close rival Dowsett, who managed to cross the finishing line in 48 minutes and 13.48 seconds.
While talking to the media personnel, Millar said that for last few years it had been the most important goal to be achieved. He further said that it was quite hard. It was just like being on a treadmill in a sauna.
Millar, currently dwelling in Girona, Spain, revealed that he felt a stir of patriotism when he was being awarded the gold medal. For him, it was the first chance to ride for Scotland, hence feeling emotional while being on the podium was quite natural.
The thrilling cyclist was of the view that when you get focused on achieving a goal, you tend to forget about why you do that and why it has become that important for you to achieve it.
“When I was there on the podium and the flag was handed over to me and the whole team was standing in front of me, this was perhaps the first time that singing Flower of Scotland hit my heart for what it truly means. Though I have been living all across
the world, but my heart is there in Scotland”.
Just like that of men, women’s time trial event was equally interesting where Tara Whitten from Canada made it to bag the gold medal, Linda Villumsen from new Zealand ended up second. Emma Pooley from England, who had won the World title about two weeks
ago in Australia eventually ended up at ninth position, for her, the temperature of 43 degrees centigrade posed the biggest hindrance to do well in the event.
For Julia Shaw, the debutant of the cycling competition in the women’s trail, the silver medal was totally unexpected, while talking to the media she said that she thought about finishing last. However, her coach persuaded her to keep going, she had a chance
to finally make her medal out of it.
Shaw, who is basically a physicist at Hampshire, had got all her training in a room at her home while having the heating on. She was 10.22 seconds behind the winner, who made it to the finishing line in 39 minutes and 9.52 seconds.
Sharing her views Shaw said that when she discovered the course to be very flat, she thought it might be a good time for her to try and get into the squad. However, she was honest enough to say that while competing in the race she had no idea about what
to expect. As the race was happening, she remained oblivious of her performance. Her whole focus was to keep going on.
Pooley, the pre-favourite of the race was rather disappointed by her performance. However, she refused to blame the stomach bug, which kept on troubling her throughout her tour to India. While talking to the media she said that the course did not suit her,
and she could not manage a good ride.
Tags: