‘I gave it my best shot’ says Sam after top-10 finish
SAM CULVERWELL’S impressive ninth-place finish in Sunday’s Commonwealth Games road race did not tell the full story of a terrifically courageous and potent ride.
A lone Guernsey rider will always be disadvantaged against the bigger national teams, but the 21-year-old undoubtedly awed many spectators by using his racing IQ in Warwick to threaten a third Sarnian medal at this Games.
He had gone for broke in the last 11km – responding swiftly to Sam Watson’s late attack to form a two-man breakaway – and in another world, gold could have been distinctly possible.
But the England rider’s reluctance to work with him led to them being caught in the final 1.4km, after which New Zealand’s Aaron Gate won a fierce sprint from South Africa’s Daryl Impey and Scotland’s Finn Crockett.
‘A complete range of emotion right now,’ Culverwell said.
‘I’m super happy with that ride. After the disappointment in the time-trial, I came out here today and I showed myself really well.
‘I was one of the strongest riders in that group, outnumbered, and I really took it on.
‘But at the same time, a bit gutted because while ninth was amazing, ’til 2km to go when me and [Sam Watson] got caught, I was in the mix for the win.
‘He just wouldn’t work with me because he had teammates behind, and that was such a shame, because I could have got a medal.
‘But you have to be willing to lose it to win it, so I gave it my best shot and I’m really happy with how I showed myself today.’
Guernsey had five men in the race, which unfolded over 10 laps of a fairly flat 16km circuit.
But four of them were largely focused on ensuring Culverwell made the main breakaway.
The pace proved fast from the get-go, but it was mission accomplished – by half-way, the Sarnian was in a decisive break of 15.
Culverwell continued to ride combatively and was the only one to bridge a solo attack from Watson that grew to a nearly 20sec. advantage. Their break proved ill-fated, though, as 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas soon sped past to throw down the gauntlet.
Gate’s winning time of 3hrs 28min. 29sec. set him 24sec. clear of Culverwell. But what a ride for the Guernseyman.
‘I love these one-day races – they really suit my style,’ he added.
‘I really loved being able to get out there and show everyone what I’m capable of today and pull off a pretty good result, with the odds stacked against me.
‘There were three English guys, two South Africans, two Scottish guys. I was one of the only guys on my own in there and it made for a really tough race, but hopefully that goes some way in helping to get me a team for next year [when I’m no longer an U23].’
He praised the ‘incredible’ atmosphere and gave a hats off to his supportive teammates.
James Roe finished 40th and Mike Serafin 43rd, both within a huge group spanning 20th to 53rd, while Marc Cox placed 56th.
Seb Tremlett retired before halfway.
Recent British champion Mark Cavendish (44th) was among the scalps taken by the top Sarnians, while Australia missed out on world-class sprinter Caleb Ewan (injury) and Rohan Dennis (medical advice). Dennis had won the time-trial three days before.
