Gaze and Oliver dominate mountain bike race

Sam Gaze made it back to back Commonwealth Games gold medals when he swept to an imperious victory in the men’s mountain biking cross-country race.

He was followed home by countryman Ben Oliver, and after him it was another 90 seconds back to third placed Andrew Miller of Namibia.

The New Zealanders totally outclassed the rest of the field.

New Zealand cycle fans, while thrilled at the dominant riding of Gaze and Oliver, surely spared a thought for brilliant rider Anton Cooper, who was forced to withdraw a day before the race because of Covid.

The trio of riders have certainly given New Zealand some great Commonwealth Games memories. In Glasgow in 2014 it was it was Cooper 1, Gaze 2. On the Gold Coast in 2018 it was Gaze 1, Cooper 2, Oliver 4. In Birmingham it was Gaze 1, Oliver 2, Cooper unable to start.

Gaze, 26, gave a masterly display. He and Oliver soon asserted themselves at the head of the 26-strong field and were so comfortable they were able to chat about the pace and how they were feeling, and encourage each other to maintain the momentum.

With about 2½ laps remaining in the eight-lap race, Gaze moved into over-drive and Oliver was unable to go with him.

The North Canterbury stayed strong all the way and recorded 1min 34.19s. Oliver followed him home in 1 min 34.50s.

“Once Sam stepped on the gas, I just couldn’t go with him,” said Oliver, 25. “He’s super-quick. I hoped he might fade but he never did. I maintained my speed, but he went quicker.”

Gaze said that the past four years had been “tumultuous”.

There was a bad crash in South Africa in 2019 that left him with a head injury, and then double knee surgery and then Covid. He said he had battled through some low times and that he felt he had grown hugely as a person since 2018.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I’m proud of this version of me. I’m a more rounded person, a better person, and I feel comfortable in my own skin.”

Only Gaze can really know the personal journey he has been on. But what was blindingly clear was that he is some mountain biker and one of New Zealand’s all-time great Commonwealth Games athletes.