Commonwealth Games: Elinor Barker wins points race gold, Scots complete podium

Elinor Barker produced a stunning performance to win points race gold and secure Wales' first cycling title of the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Scotland's Katie Archibald and Neah Evans completed an all-British podium with silver and bronze respectively.

England's Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott broke their world record to win gold in the women's blind and visually impaired 1,000m time trial.

Scotland's Neil Fachie and pilot Matt Rotherham won the men's B&VI sprint.

That was their second gold on the Gold Coast and meant Fachie equalled the Scottish Commonwealth Games record - held by sprinter Allan Wells and bowler Alex Marshall - of four.

Wales' James Ball and pilot Peter Mitchell took silver, while Scotland's Aileen McGlynn and pilot Louise Haston were third behind Thornhill and Scott.

The home nations' medal-laden day was completed when Scot Jack Carlin took silver in the men's sprint final before England's Chris Latham won scratch race bronze.

'I'm so, so grateful'

Barker's victory meant she became the first Welsh cyclist to win a Commonwealth title on the track since Auckland 1990.

She gained a lap on the field to finish on 40 points, winning two of the 10 sprints.

"I consider this to be one of my best events. I wanted to win and I'm glad it paid off," she said.

"It's really special and to hear the Welsh national anthem on the podium is something that doesn't happen very often.

"I'm so, so grateful."

The 23-year-old had won silver and Archibald, 24, bronze at the Glasgow Games four years ago.

Silver on the Gold Coast was Archibald's second medal of the Games so far, having won individual pursuit gold on Friday.

Commonwealth Games: 'I feel so good now' - Elinor Barker celebrates gold

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31 comments

Comment posted by BlooMunKy, at 15:02 7 Apr 2018
The reason a lot of people in Wales don't speak Welsh is because back in the 19th century English coal owners would publicly flog any of the workers caught speaking Welsh. Simply because of paranoia about any union uprising or justice and fair pay for the workers.

The english have a very short memory when it comes to their oppressive tendancies in the past.
Comment posted by Jones, at 14:26 7 Apr 2018
So lovely to see the Welsh flag and hear the Welsh anthem. Forget about the "you can't be Welsh because you don't speak the language" attitude. We are all Welsh. This woman is Welsh and a damn good cyclist, let's be proud of that.
Comment posted by GALAXY, at 11:37 7 Apr 2018
What a joy to watch when she made that break & sustained her ride until grabbing the pack. An inspired & extremely brave move. One of the highlights of the games for me so far.

Well done Barker x
Comment posted by William , at 14:07 7 Apr 2018
Why do you guys always make it about the dying language, just be happy we won & stop causing trouble. Also she cant speak welsh just like me & the other 90% of people in Wales so stop making this political!

Regards, William, 25, Swansea, Wales, UK.
Comment posted by U16341586, at 13:19 7 Apr 2018
Wonderful for both celtic nations, the commentary and coverage as usual is bias towards England in the web and on the tv. Gynmnastics especially......also whoever the bbc quality and research team are show their lack of credibility here , go onto the bbc page for home nations and read about wales...Claudia fragapane is not Welsh !
Comment posted by ysbryd, at 13:10 7 Apr 2018
how can you be banned for speaking the native tongue of the british isles amazing bike ride by elinor
Comment posted by Waynes World, at 13:54 7 Apr 2018
Top show Eli Barker!! Llongyfarchiadau!
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 11:59 7 Apr 2018
Elinor Barker is world class with another crushing victory. Like Laura 'Trotty' Kenny she has an incredible engine and can put the hammer down and sustain the pace and it is that which kills the competition as she prove yet again when she made the break.

Well done Katie Archibald and Neah Evans for completing the podium. British cycling is in a great place despite the naysayers.
Comment posted by Super D Boon, at 12:57 7 Apr 2018
"Llongyfarchiadau Mawr Elinor!"

Careful now, Welsh comments are banned on this forum as I have found when I made a remark in Welsh!

Down with this sort of thing.

But yes well done to Elinor.
Comment posted by Matthew Lacey , at 11:42 7 Apr 2018
Da Iawn Girl
Comment posted by Ponty1, at 16:21 7 Apr 2018
Congratulations to Elinor, bringing honour to Abergavenny. You have always been a very talented rider, now all that hard training work has paid off. Well done!
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 13:46 7 Apr 2018
@10. skipinder

I agree with you. BBC coverage of the Games is a joke. Very poor presenters and the BBC studio theme resembles Torremolinos.

Balding and Logan are simply not good enough and don't have the knowledge or credibility to present these games.

The Likes of Des Lynham, Harry Carpenter and David Colman were on a different level to the poor bunch the BBC field now.
Comment posted by mary, at 13:02 7 Apr 2018
Well done Elinor incredible ride x
Comment posted by Dragonborn, at 12:48 7 Apr 2018
Llongyfarchiadau Mawr Elinor!
Comment posted by Chaz04, at 11:42 7 Apr 2018
Couldnt agree more! Incredible! What a great ride!
Comment posted by stevemcqueen, at 15:02 7 Apr 2018
Two outstanding competitors (Barker and Archibold) - chapeau to both. Would love them to get individual golds at the Olympics......but very tough with Trotty. Great days for women's track cycling.
Comment posted by U16341586, at 13:27 7 Apr 2018
The commentary as well is like a 6 hour warburtons bread advert , dire
Comment posted by WarleyBear , at 15:22 7 Apr 2018
@13 .... Because we are virtually forced to pay for the BBC unlike many other forms of media.... and if you pay for something you use it.

Anyway.... Great performance and congratulations to them.
Comment posted by BlooMunKy, at 15:18 7 Apr 2018
And you can down vote my comment at 21 as much as you like, try searching for "welsh not".
Comment posted by U16341586, at 13:58 7 Apr 2018
12 spot on. Eurosport produce a far better standard. The Winter Olympics with Shelly rudman was excellent , note she’s female Jaycee.

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