Jason Queally missed out on Commonwealth Games gold in the one kilometre time trial by the blink of an eye.

Then he breathed a sigh of relief so heartfelt it could have alerted the shipping forecast in the Tasman Sea.

With silver around his neck he revealed he would never race the killer 'kilo' again. The 1km time trial is no longer an Olympic discipline and 35-year-old Queally feels no need to put himself through the pain elsewhere of an event which turns the legs to jelly as they are effectively 'poisoned' by lactic acid.

"That's my last kilo ever and it's about time," said Queally after he had seen Aussie Ben Kersten snatch the gold with an imperious ride which also forced Scotland's Chris Hoy into the bronze position.

"I rode my best and couldn't have given any more. The better, younger and more good looking guy won. I had a fantastic ride but it was not enough."

It was a generous tribute after Kersten had spoiled what was supposed to be cycling's enactment of the battle of Bannockburn.

We had come to the velodrome for the latest tribal battle between England and Scotland. It was supposed to be the Sydney gold medallist in Queally against the champion of Athens in Hoy.

Sport is rarely so straightforward.

The beauty of cycling at these Games, however, is that the quality cannot be denied. Some other sports might attract cynical glances from critics who claim they are some way below world class.

But despite Fijian Rakeshwar Lal recording a time of 1:29.337 in coming last in what was little more than jogging pace for true racers this was a night of excellence in cycling's blue riband discipline.

Home advantage certainly played its part. For while Queally and Hoy both had nine family members roaring themselves hoarse from the sidelines, that was nothing to the moon-rocket roar which swept Kersten to a time of 1:01.815.

Queally was first to try to eclipse it but faded disappointingly on his last lap to take second place with 1:01.849.

And so to Edinburgh's Hoy, the Commonwealth champion of 2002 and the man who, if they ever remade Braveheart on bicycles, would take the lead role.

By any stretch Hoy, the 1km Commonwealth record holder, blew it. The time was well within his compass but the pressure took its toll. Not that he was anything other than generous in defeat.

"No excuses," he said. "I was beaten by two better riders on the night. It is frustrating and a bit confusing. I was in very good form but all credit to Kersten. Sometimes in life it is just not there."

At least Queally and Hoy can get straight back on the bike, so to speak. They go for gold again on Sunday in the team sprint.

"I'll come back all the more hungry," said Hoy. Queally promised much the same in the knowledge that never again would he have to suffer the pain of the killer 'kilo.'