A dropped chain severely affected South African Brendon Davids’s race at the Commonwealth Games individual time-trial which took place at Currumbin Beach in Gold Coast today.
Davids, who placed seventh overall at the Tour de Langkawi two weeks ago, finished 10th on the 38.5km route and said under the circumstances he was happy with the result.
Brendon Davids pictured during the time-trial of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast today. Photo: Elrick Kulsen
He lost over a minute repairing a dropped chain during the route, he said. “It was a bitter-sweet result for me considering what happened out on the course,” Davids said.
“In terms of my performance I think I rode the best time-trial I have ever done, but unfortunately I lost a big chunk of time to slow down, stop [to fix the mechanical] and try to get going again.
“It was also during a pretty fast section of the course. At the end of the day it is part of what we do in cycling. I am taking the positives and just going to roll with it.”
His main focus, Davids said, was the Games road race which takes place on Saturday. “I can use today as motivation for Saturday,” he said.
“That is what I have set as my main goal. It is what I actually trained for leading up to the Games.”
Davids said he felt Team SA had a “good shot” at winning a medal in the road race.
“We have a really good team and for myself I think I have really received a good confidence-booster. My form is where it needs to be.
“Hopefully we can bring home some hardware come Saturday,” he added.
Davids was the only South African to take part in the time-trial after Nicholas Dlamini withdrew.
Apart from Davids, the team for the road race comprises Dlamini, Bradley Potgieter, Clint Hendricks and Nolan Hoffman.
