Gilmore wins women's road race gold

A brilliant tactical display by the Australians handed Rochelle Gilmore the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games women's road race through New Delhi.

Gilmore came out strongest in the 112km race in steamy conditions, clocking 2hr 49min 30sec to beat England's Elizabeth Armistead and another Australian, Chloe Hosking who took the bronze medal.

"It was good to get the big win -- I'm extremely happy," an elated Gilmore said at the finish line. "Everything just went to plan because our team went to plan, everyone was on fire on the day and we managed to control it."

The Australians rode as a unit throughout the eight-lap, 112km race around Delhi's iconic Connaught Place, squeezing out the favourite, reigning Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke of Wales, on the last lap.

Delhi's retail hub, appropriately designed in the shape of a large wheel with radial roads spoking outwards from the centre, provided the perfect backdrop for the contest.

It was a pan-flat, but technical course which set the scene for a sprint finish and so it played itself out, with the medals decided in the last 100 metres.

Kara Chesworth of Wales led out the first lap in a race overshadowed early on by crashes. Angharad Mason of Wales came off her bike in a nasty-looking fall while England's Sharon Laws crashed into a barrier on a hairpin left-hander.

She was back in the mix halfway through, although her bike was damaged and she had to replace it on two hours.

The route was laden with sharp corners and sweeping turns which were ideal for attacks to be launched as the course looped past such iconic sights as India Gate.

But no rider sustained a break with city dust made the relatively short distances a challenge and with the early morning heat turning it into a race of attrition.

With just under two laps remaining, New Zealand's Linda Villumsen made a break with Australia's Victoria Whitelaw, both non-sprinters, quickly opening up a huge gap.

The peloton caught up with the Australians massing at the front.

The field began to thin out with the business end of the pack looking considerably smaller by the 84km mark and the pace dropped going into the last lap as the peloton -- still with 37 riders -- eased off.

Anne Samplonius came through in front with half a lap left, with the English getting organised to let Emma Pooley go in the last 6km.

But they got their tactics wrong with Pooley hitting the front too early. The New Zealander riders attacked with Australia in the box seats behind.

Gilmore, who had managed to ride eight laps virtually unnoticed, came through after sitting near the front until the last 100m.

Unfortunately none of the drama could be seen up close and personal as there were no spectators anywhere on the course because the Delhi police had shut any road that might give access.

Women's Road Race: 112km, Delhi.

Gold Medal: Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) 2:49:30.

Silver Medal: Elizabeth Armistead (Eng)

Bronze Medal: Chloe Hosking (Aus) st.