CANADA's Chrissy Redden took advantage of a puncture suffered by the pre-race favourite, Caroline Alexander of Scotland, to claim Commonwealth gold in the women's mountain biking at Rivington today.
The Barrow-born Alexander had established a commanding lead of 80 seconds by the halfway point of the first lap of the 6.9km circuit.
But the 34-year-old, a former European champion, punctured her rear wheel on one of the rocky descents.
She tried in vain to repair it with a foam injection system and was forced to drop out.
Redden stormed into the lead and held off the strong challenge of Susy Pryde of New Zealand, who won silver, and Australia's Mary Grigson who settled for bronze.
The English duo of Sue Thomas and Jenny Copnall also suffered punctures.
Thomas repaired her tyre while Copnall persisted with her flat but both finished well off the pace.
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