Fine, breezy and quite cool conditions greeted riders as the junior riders tackled the 18.1-kilometre time trial in a fight to claim the national road race championships title.
Lachlan Miller set a scorching time out on course from the early starters, a 45.4 kilometre average an impressive benchmark that wasn’t passed as the rest of the hopefuls set their own marks.
Dylan George finished second, 27 seconds adrift with Matthew Connan third, 52 seconds adrift. Miller, a first time competitor at nationals exploded onto the scene with his impressive ride.
“It was alright, I was happy with it,” said Miller. “I liked it, it had a bit of everything in it. The big hill at the start was hard, then there were a few long drags that were a bit tiring.
“This is the first time I’ve done nationals, I did states and stuff last year.”
Victoria's Alyssa Polites defended her under 19 women's time trial crown following a dominant display at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat.
Polites clocked a time of 28 minutes and seven seconds across the course, one minute ahead of Dubbo Cycling Club's Haylee Fuller (NSW), who she just caught and passed on the line, and Queensland's Isabelle Carnes (Balmoral Cycling Club).
The win continues the Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club rider's rise in the sport over the last few years, including national titles on the track and a National Road Series contract with Sydney Uni Staminade.
Polites revealed the successful title defence was a great reward for completing her final year of high school in 2020.
"It was a pretty big goal for me this year. Coming after year-12 studies, I really put my head down targeting both track and road nationals," said Polites, who will enter a double degree of Exercise Science and Business at Deakin University in 2021.
Polites picked up a bike in the spirit of competition in her early years, looking to compete with her brother.
“My dad used to race when he was younger and he got back into the sport," said Polites. "My brother got a new bike and I got his, I hopped on and just a bit of sibling rivalry I guess."
