Australia's Matthew Hayman secured the biggest win of his career yesterday when he upstaged his big name rivals to claim victory in the Commonwealth Games 165-kilometre road race.

The 27-year-old domestique for the Dutch professional team Rabobank made his decisive move four kilometres from the end of the 15-lap race at the Royal Botanical Gardens course.

Hayman held on to win in four hours 5.09 minutes to clinch Australia's second road race gold of the day and their 11th overall in the road and track cycling programme.

South Africa's David George won the silver medal in 4:05.13 and Australian Allan Davis, the Tour de France cyclist widely expected to win, finished third a further eight seconds in arrears.

The best-placed rider for the Maltese was David Treacy.

His time was four hours 21.05 minutes. He was 33rd overall from 129 starters and had an average speed for the distance of 38.367km/h.

The other Maltese cyclists in the race were Nick Formosa, Etienne Bonello and Jack Schiavone.

Hayman's victory completed an Australian double in the road races on the final day of Games action after Natalie Bates had claimed gold in the women's 100km race earlier in the day.

Malta's Stephania Magri was 28th overall after completing the distance 17 minutes and 12 seconds behind Bates.