Gillow claims back-to-back Australian Time Trial gold
Heather, O'Donnell over a minute behind for minor medals
Shara Gillow (GreenEdge-AIS) successfully defended her Australian Time Trial crown, blasting her way around the 27.1 kilometre Learmonth course in a time of 37:04.35 claiming gold in the elite women's category over a minute ahead of her nearest rivals.
Taryn Heather claimed the silver medal in a time of 38:17.54 while 2008 champion Bridie O'Donnell 38:18.78 took home the bronze.
The result meant that the new GreenEdge-AIS outfit claimed a clean sweep of the elite women's titles at the 2012 Australian Road Championships, with Alexis Rhodes winning her fourth criterium championship, and Amanda Spratt the road race.
Sinead Noonan (Jayco-AIS), who won the under 23 road championship on Saturday, earned her second gold medal for the 2012 titles, in a time of 39:54.85 placing her ninth overall.
Gillow put in a far less conservative performance on Tuesday than usual, leaving nothing on the road in the blustery, cold conditions. Last out of the start house as defending champion, Gillow only had one aim for the day – to ride as fast as possible.
"I'm learning so much as I go, but when it comes down to it it's all about trying to go quick and I think I did that," Gillow, 24, said having ridden her race against the clock in an average time of 43.87 km/h
"There's always some things you can change, but I'm pretty happy with how it went," she continued. "I just feel like I'm getting better and better at the moment– hopefully I can continue that when we go back to Europe."
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team |
---|---|
1 | Shara Gillow (Qld) |
2 | Taryn Heather (Vic) |
3 | Bridie O'Donnell (Vic) |
4 | Amanda Spratt (NSW) |
5 | Alexis Rhodes (SA) |
6 | Grace Sulzberger (Tas) |
7 | Rachel Neylan (SA) |
8 | Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) |
9 | Sinead Noonan (SA) U23 |
10 | Lauren Kitchen (NSW) U23 |
11 | Sarah Kent (WA) U23 |
12 | Emma Lawson (Tas) U23 |
13 | Ailie McDonald (ACT) U23 |
14 | Carla Ryan (Vic) |
15 | Jessica Allen (WA) U23 |
16 | Carlee Taylor (SA) |
17 | Stephanie Frawley (Vic) |
18 | Nicole Whitburn (Vic) |
19 | Miranda Griffiths (Vic) |
20 | Gracie Elvin (ACT) |
21 | Samantha De Riter (Vic) |
22 | Megan Bagworth (ACT) |
23 | Lucy Coldwell (Vic) |
24 | Elizabeth Hall (Vic) |
25 | Stephanie Ives (Vic) |
26 | Kellie Mathers (Vic) |
27 | Alice Wallett (ACT) U23 |
DNS | Kendelle Hodges (Vic) |
DNS | Delphine Astier (Vic) U23 |
DNS | Rowena Fry (Tas) |
DNS | Tiffany Cromwell (SA) |
DNS | Alexandra Carle (ACT) |
DNS | Loren Rowney (Qld) U23 |
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As a sports journalist and producer since 1997, Jane has covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games, rugby league, motorsport, cricket, surfing, triathlon, rugby union, and golf for print, radio, television and online. However her enduring passion has been cycling.
Jane is a former Australian Editor of Cyclingnews from 2011 to 2013 and continues to freelance within the cycling industry.
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