Catch up on all the happenings in Commonwealth Sport as we approach the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

LUKE PLAPP WINS ELITE MEN’S CYCLING ROAD RACE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tokyo 2020 track cycling gold medallist Luke Plapp won a gruelling, attack-filled edition of the 2022 AusCycling Federation University Elite Men’s Road Race National Championship with a dominant individual ride in Buninyong.

#RoadNats22 One for the books – what a day for @LucasPlapp!

He’s only 21, but we know he’s dreamed about this day for a long, long time.

Australia’s 2022 Elite Men’s National Champion! 🇦🇺 🏆

📷 Con Chronis pic.twitter.com/DKbo2daeDJ

— AusCycling (@AusCyclingAus) January 16, 2022

The 21-year-old track and road rider from Brunswick, Victoria rode away from a heavily reduced peloton to claim his first professional victory setting himself up for a massive 2022 season which includes the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

NICOLE FRAIN SOLOES TO ELITE WOMEN’S ROAD RACE NATIONAL TITLE

The Tasmanian cyclist has surprised the favourites to win the elite women’s road race national championship.

On the last morning of the 2022 Federation University Road National Championships, the 29-year-old Tasmanian went solo and held off an elite group of chasers in the final stages of the 104-kilometre race.

Frain adds the national title to the bronze medal she won in last year’s time trial national championship.

“No words. I’m pretty excited, pretty happy, it’s a bit of a blur,” Frain told AusCycling.

DIAMONDS ROAR TO NETBALL QUAD SERIES FINAL

The Australian Diamonds have defeated South African in a commanding display to set up a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games rematch with England in the final.

Australia’s Diamonds have surged into the final of the Quad Series to set up netball’s version of the Ashes, which will culminate in a mouth-watering final against their England hosts.

 

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Their second straight win has earned the holders a fascinating climax to the four-team tournament, with two games in two days against England, who pipped them agonisingly to take Commonwealth Games gold in 2018 and also won their last meeting in 2019.

As Australia and England, who defeated New Zealand 49-46 in the other Sunday match, have won both their matches, Wednesday’s (Thursday morning AEDT) final is assured.

GEORGIA BOHL CALLS TIME ON HER SWIMMING CAREER

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Georgia Bohl called time on her swimming career earlier this year.

In an Instagram post, Bohl post that “after much deliberation & heartache I have decided to formally retire from my swimming endeavours”.

Bohl won gold as part of Australia’s women’s 4x100m medley relay team and individual bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke on the Gold Coast.

Commonwealth Games Australia wishes Georgia all the best in the next stage of her life.

IVORY, ROSEMAN-GANNON WIN NATIONAL CYCLING CRITERIUM CROWNS

Glasgow 2014 Games alumni Cameron Ivory’s solo attack has paid off at the Australian road cycling championships, earning the Australian title winning mountain biker his maiden road national title, while Ruby Roseman-Gannon has continued the outstanding start to her professional career winning the elite criterium title for the first time.

“That was definitely unexpected. I came in here not really knowing how the form would be. I know that I’ve done heaps of training into this,” Ivory said.

After winning the two Bay Classic criteriums at Geelong on the weekend, Roseman-Gannon was the rider to beat in the women’s race.

The 23-year-old Victorian rode behind new teammate and Gold Coast 2018 gold medallist Alex Manly who gave crucial support in the closing laps.

“I’ve wanted this for a very long time, and to finish it off in my first time out in a full BikeExchange kit means so much,” she said.

“I can’t thank Alex Manly enough, she rides for other people all the time. She is the most selfless rider and I couldn’t have done it without her.”

GRACE BROWN, ROHAN DENNIS REGAIN NATIONAL CYCLING TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After a few years without wearing the green-and-gold jerseys, pre-race favourites Grace Brown and Glasgow 2014 silver medallist Rohan Dennis have regained the individual time trial Australian titles on the first day of the 2022 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat.

 

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The elite men’s race was billed as a head-to-head battle between UCI World Tour riders Rohan Dennis and Delhi 2010 bronze medallist Luke Durbridge, both of whom had won the title on multiple occasions.

Dennis would be the one to pull out an advantage on the second lap, and when Durbridge failed to come into sight long after the South Australian had crossed the line, it was clear to those roadside that Dennis had won the 2022 bout.