A PUNCTURE at a critical stage may have hurt Mark Renshaw’s chances of finishing on the podium in the men’s road race at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games early yesterday morning (AEST), but the Bathurst cyclist was still proud to have worn green and gold.

In driving rain the tricky course tested riders and of the 139 men who started, only 12 made it to the finish line after 168 kilometres.

It was Welshman Geraint Thomas who grabbed the gold medal after a bold solo attack, finishing in a time of four hours, 13 minutes and five seconds.

Jack Bauer (New Zealand) and Scott Thwaites (England) claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively while Renshaw crossed the line four minutes, 29 seconds after Thomas in fifth position.

Had he not had to change his bike in the closing stages after the front wheel puncture, Renshaw could very well have finished on the podium.

“The weather made it really tough on this circuit, constantly breaking up and down and slippery roads,” Renshaw said. 

“It was hard, but I loved all of it. 

“Personally, I just had no luck, we planned to make the moves happen at that stage [50 kilometre to go].

“When Jack Bauer went, I went straight after him and Geraint Thomas came across, but then I punctured.”

Backing up after what was the best Tour de France campaign of his career, Renshaw embraced the chance to represent Australia in road cycling for the first time.

The oldest rider in the green and gold at 31, Renshaw still had experience on his side as well as some inside knowledge, having spoke to his Omega Pharma-QuickStep team-mate and Isle of Man star sprinter Mark Cavendish about the course. 

It consisted of 12 laps of a 14km course through the city streets and outskirts of Glasgow. It was a course Cavendish was tipped to shine on before a crash in the opening stage of the Tour de France forced him to withdraw from the Games.

“People looking at the result [of the 2013 British Road Race Championships] might have thought that because Mark won it was a sprinters’ course, but it wasn’t and that wasn’t the way he won,” Renshaw said prior to the race. 

“But I think we’ve got a good young team here. I feel pretty good, after the Tour de France I went back down to my home in Monaco for three days and my legs feel fine.”

The legs of his Australian team-mates were good as well as they featured at the front of the peloton for much of the race, trying to reel in current British road race champion Pete Kennaugh, who attacked inside the opening kilometres.

That move, plus the pacesetting from the Australians in pursuit, scattered a large portion of the field. As the rain intensified more riders dropped out of contention and after six laps, only 30 riders remained.

Renshaw’s Australian team-mate Rohan Dennis, who had done plenty work leading the chase, crashed on a cobbled corner. While not being seriously injured, he decided to withdraw.

Still, the Australians remained aggressive, Nathan Haas being sent up the road. That tactic did not work, but Renshaw remained in contention as the field shrunk further to 15 riders with four laps to go.

After enjoying a lead of almost two minutes at one stage, Kennaugh found himself with some company as Thomas, Bauer and Thwaites joined him. 

Renshaw was part of that move to bridge the gap as well, but a puncture then cost him time.

The Welshman attacked on the last ascent of Saint Vincent Street and while he too punctured, he had enough of a lead after his wheel change to stay clear.

“I am pretty proud of today, the team rode really well, but it just didn’t go our way at the key moments,” Renshaw said.

“I had no luck, getting a flat whilst in the break with the winners. That’s racing.

“I was proud to pull on the green and gold jersey again and hopefully I get a chance down the road.”