The medallists on the 2010 women's TT podium celebrate in traditional style. Bridie O'Donnell (VIC), Amber Halliday (SA) and Carly Light (SA) (Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Tenth place for Rebecca Doolan (ACT)(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Carly Light (SA) took the bronze medal, 1 minute 2 seconds behind Halliday(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Silver medallist in the Under 23 race went to Tiffany Cromwell (SA)(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Lisa Jacobs (VIC) rode strongly to seventh place(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Rachel Neylan (SA) came sixth(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Bridie O'Donnell (VIC) was just four seconds behind Halliday(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Amber Halliday (SA) on her way to the national title(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Louise Kerr (QLD) found her way into the top ten with a ninth-place ride(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
U23 bronze medallist, Alexandra Carle (ACT) finished a minute behind Tomic in the Under 23 race.(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
A big effort by Simone Grounds (QLD)(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Sarah Roy (NSW) makes her way up the finishing straight(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
A strong finish by Shara Gillow (QLD)(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Josephine Tomic (WA) is the 2010 Under 23 women's time trial Champion(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
The unmistakeable time trialling style of Bridie O'Donnell (VIC)(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
With four seconds to spare, Amber Halliday (SA) finishes on top in the women's time trial(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Fourth place for Vicki Whitelaw (SA) in the time trial(Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
The Under 23 podium - Tiffany Cromwell (SA), Josephine Tomic (WA) and Alexandra Carle (ACT) (Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
Amber Halliday (SA) is the 2010 women's time trial Champion (Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
The women's open road TT podium (l-r): Bridie O'Donnell (2nd), Amber Halliday (1st), and Carly Light (3rd).(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Irene Digenis from Victoria in action during the Women's Time Trial Championship in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Carly Light from South Australia heads towards a bronze medal in the Women's Time Trial Championship in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Myfanwy Galloway from the Australian Capital Territory on the climb out of Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Sarah Roy from New South Wales climbs her way out of Buninyong during her ride against the clock.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Sophie Ootes from South Australia in her ride against the clock in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Tiffany Cromwell from South Australia in her ride against the clock and towards a podium finish in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Alexis Rhodes from South Australia was the top fancy pre-race but struck trouble over the climbs with punctures and subsequently withdrew from the race.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
A Mars a day...Nicole Whitburn from Victoria speeds into the finish-line in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Shenanigans on the podium after the presentations to the Women's Under 23 Time Trial Championship.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
TV presenter from SBS and event commentator Michael Tomalaris sprays Alexandra Carle with some champagne after the presentations to the women's under 23 time trial.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Josephine Tomic from Western Australia is the 2010 Women's Under 23 Time Trial Champion.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Amber Halliday from South Australia is the 2010 Australian Open Women's Time Trial Champion.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Open women's time trial champion Amber Halliday points to her tattoo in respect for the late Amy Gillett who competed in these championships before she was tragically killed in a car accident in Germany.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Climbing out of Buninyong during the women's time trial championship.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Kerry Knowler from the Australian Capital Territory climbs her way out of Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Josephine Tomic from Western Australia climbs out of Buninyong and heads towards a gold medal in the women's under 23 time trial championship.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Alexis Rhodes from South Australia grits her teeth and climbs her way out of Buninyong only to strike trouble just over the top of the climb and was forced to withdraw from the race.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Josephine Tomic from Western Australia makes her way into the finish and a gold medal in the women's under 23 time trial championship.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Pre-race fancy Bridie O'Donnell gives her all as she crosses the finish-line in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
A well earned drink: Amber Halliday from South Australia quenches her thirst after winning the gold medal in the women's open road time trial in Buninyong.(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The women's under 23 TT podium (l-r): Tiffany Cromwell (2nd), Josephine Tomic (1st), and Alexandra Carle (3rd).(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Former Olympic rower Amber Halliday has taken out the Mars Australian Women’s Time Trial title just 12 months after making her debut in the sport. Halliday posted a blistering time over the 28 kilometre course, breaking the 41 minute mark with a 40:57.1.
Halliday’s first competitive cycling race was the previous year’s time trial event. Today’s race was only Halliday’s sixth International Cycling Union ranked event, with the rider finishing fourth at last year’s Oceania Championship race, sixth at the Tour of Cong Ming Time Trial and winning the Tour of New Zealand.
“I was pretty much always going to retire after Beijing and I’ve always enjoyed riding my bike, it’s a big part of cross training for rowing, and I started to enjoy it a little bit too much towards the end of my rowing career,” she said. “
Latest Videos From
Bridie O’Donnell claimed second place just 4.3 seconds behind Halliday. While disappointed at not winning the title, the Oceania Time Trial Champion was delighted with the time she set over the course.
“Look, I’m really happy, I had an absolutely fantastic day,” said O’Donnell. “Nothing went wrong. I was actually just so excited to get to the line in good form.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t win, I wanted the jersey obviously,” she added. “To be beaten by four seconds, in a way that’s kind of a relief that I wasn’t miles away from the win. Amber’s been training specifically the way I have and then there’s a big gap to third place, so that’s satisfying too.”
Another contender for the title, Alexis Rhodes, withdrew from the race after just three kilometres. Rhodes was fined $100 by officials for unseemly behaviour when she threw her bike after flatting two tyres within the space of 50 metres.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“I may have had a bit of a dummy spit… there was a bit of bike throwing and bit of tantrum but I’m over it now,” said Rhodes.
South Australia’s Carly Light held off Vicki Whitelaw comfortably to secure the bronze medal.
Tomic on top in Under 23
West Australia’s Josephine Tomic put a niggling hip injury behind her to take a second Under 23 time trial championship victory. Making the victory all the more special for Tomic was the fact her decision to compete in the event was a late one.
“I love time trials, I’ve been doing time trials for quite a while,” she said. “Whenever I get on the start line, even if I haven’t had the best preparation, I just want to do my best and try to come away with the win. It’s a big relief.”
Tomic powered home ahead of South Australian Tiffany Cromwell, who admitted a day earlier she was unsure how she would fair in the race. Cromwell’s second place is a boost for the rider who lost her first ride with a European professional team when it collapsed last month.
“There were beautiful conditions out there today, I just didn’t have the pure power to match some of the stronger girls,” admitted Cromwell. “Apparently I started really strong but then lost time on some of the flatter sections. I’m very happy with today, it’s a great way to start the year.”
Australian Capital Territory rider Alexandra Carle claimed third in the Under 23 division.
From Lachlan Morton to Nicole Frain and Peter Stetina there were plenty of riders who had a spanner thrown in the works through the Flint Hills of Kansas
