March 21, 2006 – Symmetrics Cycling’s Svein Tuft (Canada) finished seventh in the time trial yesterday at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Austalian Nathan O’Neill won the men’s 40K race over fellow Aussie Ben Day with New Zealand’s Gordon McCauley taking the bronze. O’Neill, as many will recall from last year’s Tour of Beauce Bell, was Tuft’s bitter nemesis – the two duked it out for the week to see who would take first place overall. In the TT in Quebec, Tuft took a close second but won the Yellow Jersey, only to lose it on the final day to the super-strong O’Neill.

Yesterday, Tuft finished just over two minutes behind to O’Neill’s winning time of 48:37, but took solace in the fact that it is March and many of the riders down under have been racing all winter.

“I’m not too bummed out though because my SRM file showed 436 watts avg for the 40K – only 30 watts from that 460 we keep talking about,” said the Langley, BC resident. “I’m psyched because I feel I can only go up from here. I have a few days to chill until the road race and I think this team will do pretty well.The course is going to be nuts…it’s right downtown.”

Tuft will join his Canadian teammates for the Games road race which takes place on March 26th.