Sporting Achievement of the Year: Fresh-faced teens outrode the best

Anton Cooper gets his winning moment (front) just before Sam Gaze celebrates second place. Photo / Greg Bowker

A couple of teenagers provided New Zealand with perhaps its indelible image of the 20th Commonwealth Games.

Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze, on a grey Glasgow afternoon, earned gold and silver in the men's mountain bike race with a spectacular 1-2 finish.

The result evoked memories of Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty dominating a golden day at the Athens Olympics a decade ago, when Cooper and Gaze were still in primary school.

The two teenagers certainly raced with the assurance of the veteran triathletes, setting the pace from the start to sprint clear of the field.

Only two men were capable of matching Cooper and Gaze - Canadian Max Plaxton and Australian Daniel McConnell, the pre-race favourite and a professional 10 years the pair's senior.

And once McConnell was dropped on the final lap, the only remaining question was which colour medals the Kiwis would bring home.

Cooper decisively answered that question with an incredible burst of acceleration when the line was almost in sight, racing away from his foes in the blink of an eye.

Gaze then ensured it would be a day to remember for the New Zealand team, also showing the requisite speed to see off McConnell.

The pair embraced at the finish line and stood triumphant together on the podium, their fresh faces a stark contrast to the weathered and beaten Australian.

And their medals meant New Zealand took prizes from all three of the cycling disciplines, part of a 15-strong haul from the Games.

But the result on the hills of Cathkin Braes was as spectacular as it was unexpected.

Both Cooper and Gaze had previously offered future promise but shown few signs of such prominent success in the present.

While Gaze is also an encouraging road cyclist, both men expect to be on the start line for the cross-country race in Rio.

One-two

Who: Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze
What: Gold and silver at Commonwealth Games
When: July 30
Where: Cathkin Braes, Glasgow.