MANCHESTER, Aug 3: Nicole Cooke of Wales won the Commonwealth Games women’s road-race cycling gold here on Saturday when she outpaced a seven-rider break in the final 400 metres of the 93.6km race.

A multiple world junior champion, Cooke finished one second ahead of the others with the silver medal going to Susan Palmer-Kolmas of Canada and the bronze to Rachel Heal of England.

It was not until the start of the fifth lap that the field split into two with Australia’s Margaret Hemsley taking the initiative for a 12-strong group to open up a 34-second gap.

By the end of the sixth lap, the margin had increased to 1min 36sec with Hemsley looking the strongest.

With just over a lap to go the Australian broke clear alone on the downhill section and appeared to be heading for victory.

But her front wheel skidded on the still-damp road and she crashed to the tarmac bloodying her arms and legs.

The breakaway group went past her and she was never able to get back on level terms.

On the final lap, Alexander, who was leading in the time-trial before puncturing, was the first to make a break but was unable to shake off Cooke and Lyn Bessette of Canada.

On the final downhill section Cooke overshot a bend and nearly crashed into a stone wall.

But the Welsh teenager got herself back into contention and heading down the finishing straight she timed her run to the line to perfection for the gold.—AFP