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New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston shrugged off the effects of the flu to win a hard-earned silver medal in the 168km Commonwealth Games road race in Delhi.

Roulston has won two Commonwealth Games and two Olympic cyling medals, but always on the track. This was his first medal on the road.

The six-strong New Zealand team rode a smart race to split the field kill off the sprinters' hopes. Eventually Australian Allan Davis was the only sprinter left in the leading group and he outkicked Roulston right on the line. Scotland's David Millar was third.

Roultson said the team's plan worked perfectly. Sam Bewley and Marc Ryan made an aggressive break early, and then strongman Gordon McCauley put in a long hard stint at the head of the field. Jack Bauer then made a bid and finally the 29-year-old Roulston forced his way through in the frantic closing stages.

"The last two days I've been in bed crook, I've had bad flu symptoms," the brave Roulston said shortly after crossing the line.

"I was contemplating not starting today, just due to how I was feeling last night. I was terrible and I reckon when the caffeine gets out of my system I'll be terrible again. But it's basically my last race of the year so it was all or nothing."

It was New Zealand's 10th cycling medal of the games.


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