ROAD CYCLING: Rohan Dennis (SA) and Katrin Garfoot (QLD) have both held onto their national time trial titles for the second year in a row.
Dennis completed a day of back-to-back victories as he flew to the elite men's time trial title at the 2017 Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Buninyong.
The defending champion was the final rider to roll down the start ramp before heading out on the undulating course through Golden Plains shire.
A disciplined start saw former winner Luke Durbridge (WA) three seconds faster at the half way point creating an exciting second half of the race.
With the win in his grasp Dennis put the power down in the run home to claim victory in a time of 50minutes and 59.27 seconds, beating his 2016 winning time by over 20 seconds.
Durbridge, held on for second in 51 minutes 57.52 seconds after slowing in the second half of the race. While Ben Dyball (NSW-52:37.99) won bronze in his fourth top 10 finish in a row.
"I was a little bit nervous about today. Things haven't been going well for me the last week. Some things have come unstuck," said two-time Olympian Dennis.
"It was a little bit unknown of how I was going to go today. At the halfway point I was pretty stressed with Durbridge actually three seconds up on me.
"I knew I had an advantage with the aerodynamics into the head wind but you still don't know how your going to come back into the last ten kilometres if your going to absolutely blow. I sort of did to be honest but I was lucky everyone else did the same."
In the women's race, 2016 time trial world championship bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot demolished the field in warm conditions with a time of 43 minutes 5.2 seconds.
A favourite heading in to the race Garfoot, the last rider to start the 29.3 kilometre course overtook four riders on her way to the crown. Shara Gillow (QLD) who was gunning for a record equalling fifth title collected silver, one minute and 55 seconds behind Garfoot, for her sixth medal in a row. Bronze went to Subaru National Road Series rider Kate Perry (VIC-46:19.32).
"I pushed harder out in the beginning then I wanted to and I knew I would pay for it in the end but as soon as I saw Shara and I knew I'd catch her, I settled down a little bit and realised I had her," said Rio Olympian Garfoot.
"I knew mentally that would give me an advantage. I definitely left it all out there."
"I was just hoping that it all came together today and it did. When there was only two kilometres to go I knew just to smash it and I did."
In her first race of 2017, Garfoot was happy to start the new season with a win. "I'm defiantly happy with my performance today. Obviously there is always something to improve but at this stage I wouldn't know what that is for this race because it just all came together."
Under 23 Time Trial
2014 junior world championship medallist Alex Manly (SA) emerged on top in a close battle for the women's under 23 crown with the podium places separated by just 15 seconds.
Manly's time of 48 minutes and 39.28 seconds saw her overturn a two second deficit at the turn around point, to a five second advantage on Queensland's Jaime Gunning with Ella Scanlan-Bloor (NSW) rounding out the podium a further 10 seconds back.
"I'm really happy with the race. Going into it I wasn’t sure how I was going on the road and still unsure what I got myself into," said Oceania Track Championship medallist Manly. "I'm really happy it worked out in the end."
"I had Annemiek Van Vleuten in the car behind me, just really trying to get me to focus on each hill and just getting over that hill and then recover, then get over the next one and recover."
Callum Scotson (SA) made it a Scotson hat-trick as he defended his under 23 time trial national title by nearly one minute.
Callum's second green and gold jersey keeps it in the family after his older brother Miles claimed the title in 2015.
He the clock in 38 minutes and 27.55 seconds, for the 29.3 kilometre course, just under a minute slower than his time of a year ago.
First starter Robert Stannard sat in the hot seat for the entire race only to be edged to silver by final starter Scotson. 2015 Junior World Championship bronze medallist Michael Storer (WA) rounded out the podium.
"I think last year it was very unexpected for me to win, so this year is a bit of a relief as I was the favourite coming in. it’s a big load off my shoulders," said Scotson.
"I really know the course now, I've ridden it three times and I know how much it can hurt on the way back. It's not a forgiving course.
"It was good to be able to tick off today and now switch my focus to the road race. All I can do is have a crack, I can only do what I can do"
The elite and under 23 men and women now turn their attention to Saturday's road race.
Elite Men's Time Trial Podium
Gold - Rohan Dennis (SA)
Silver - Luke Durbridge (WA)
Bronze - Ben Dyball (NSW)
Elite Women's Time Trial Podium
Gold - Katrin Garfoot (QLD)
Silver - Shara Gillow (QLD)
Bronze - Kate Perry (VIC)
Under 23 Men's Time Trial Podium
Gold - Callum Scotson
Silver - Robert Stannard
Bronze - Michael Storer
Under 23 Women's Time Trial Podium
Gold - Alex Manly (SA)
Silver - Jaime Gunning (QLD)
Bronze - Ella Scanlan-Bloor (NSW)
Full results are avaiable HERE
