BRUM BITES: Geraint Thomas fails in bid for medal glory as he finishes EIGHTH in the men’s road race

Former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas couldn’t replicate his title-winning talents in Birmingham as the Welshman was forced to settle for bronze in the Commonwealth Games road race.

Meanwhile, England claimed another gold medal in the doubles table tennis event as Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall got the better of Team India in the repeat of the gold medal encounter that took place in 2018.

History was further made as the host country also claimed their first ever Commonwealth medal in beach volleyball.

THOMAS COMES UP SHORT 

Geraint Thomasmade a brave, late surge for gold in the 160km road race but came up short with the finish line in sight. 

The 2018 Tour de France winner, who took bronze in the time trial on Thursday, made a glory-or-bust move with 2km to go but having opened a two-second lead, was pulled back in 300m from the line by the chasing group. 

He finished eighth, with New Zealand’s Aaron Gate taking gold. 

ENGLISH DUO TAKE TABLE TENNIS TITLE 

Liam Pitchford believes his table tennis doubles gold with Paul Drinkhall has surpassed their win on the Gold Coast four years ago.

The English duo successfully defended their doubles title won in Australia after beating India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sharath Kamal Achanta in a repeat of the gold-medal clash in 2018. He said:

 ‘Obviously, it’s an amazing achievement. This feels better than Gold Coast. The last eight points were some of the best we have played.’

England’s Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall secured gold in the table tennis doubles

ENGLAND SECURE FIRST VOLLEYBALL MEDAL

Javier and Joaquin Bello set their sights on Paris 2024 after sealing England’s first beach volleyball medal at the Commonwealth Games. 

The Madrid-born twins beat Rwanda’s Olivier Ntagengwa and Venuste Gatsinze to take bronze and Javier said: ‘We’re the first English team to win a medal here, why can’t we be the first to qualify for an Olympics?’

Madrid-born Javier and Joaquin Bello helped England claim a first-ever gold in beach volleyball

 MATTY LEE MISSES OUT ON GOLD

England’s Matty Lee had to settle for bronze in the 10metre platform diving final after a below-par second dive, with Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau taking gold.

Lee said: ‘I am actually really happy with my bronze. There was a moment when I thought I was out because there are some great divers. 

‘Congratulations to Cassiel. He is a beast and it is good we have that competition.’