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Victoria's Felicity Wardlaw (Bicycle Superstore) was crowned Australia's elite women's time trial national champion after toppling three-time reigning champion Shara Gillow (ORICA-AIS) at the 2014 Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Burrumbeet today.
Wardlaw, 36, a Subaru National Road Series product from the regional Victorian town of Benalla, was overcome with emotion after her win.
"I've done so much work for this and it's just an awesome reward," Wardlaw exclaimed. "I've been trying to hold down a full-time job and train morning and night, at 36 years of age you often question and think is it time to hang up the shoes but it's moments like this that are just surreal."
Wardlaw, who claimed time trial bronze in last year's championships, covered the 28 kilometre course in a time of 38 minutes and 46.64 seconds.
She finished 32 seconds ahead of Queensland's Gillow (39:18.8) who was aiming to become the first woman in history to claim four consecutive titles. Victoria's 2008 national champion Bridie O'Donnell (39:23.79) took the bronze medal.
"I was hurting so much out there, there is so much doubt that comes into your mind [during the race]," said Wardlaw.
"(But) I've really learned over the last 12 months how to block out all that pain out and just move that pain from the legs to the finish line."
Three-time defending champion Gillow, who represented Australia at the 2013 world championships in Italy, admitted her preparation for the event was less than ideal.
"It's a little bit disappointing," said Gillow. "But I am just back after being off the bike for two weeks with a bout of pneumonia, so to come here and get second today I was pretty happy with that.
"And all credit to Felicity she did a really, really good job and I'm really happy for her.