Benalla fire planner Felicity Wardlaw upstages to champions to win Australian women's time trial title

A 36-YEAR-OLD fire planner has upstaged Olympians and national champions to claim the Australian women's time trial title.

Wardlaw (C) receives the spoils, flanked by Gillow (L) and O'Donn...

A 36-YEAR-OLD fire planner from Benalla upstaged Olympians and national champions to claim the Australian women's time trial title this afternoon.

Felicity Wardlaw, who has to cram training and racing in around full-time work with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, improved on her third place from last year and stopped Shara Gillow from claiming four consecutive national crowns.

Wardlaw completed the 28km course at Burrumbeet near Ballarat in 38mins 46secs to beat Gillow by 32secs and Bridie O'Donnell by 37secs.

Wardlaw - who lives in Victoria but was born in Scottsdale and still calls herself a Tasmanian - was joined by her family who flew in from Tassie for today's race against the clock.

"As a time triallist I've developed so much, not so much in the physical aspect but also mentally and I've become a lot stronger and prepared to push myself to the absolute limit," she said.

"You're racing against the clock and you know you've got people chasing you and it is tough fighting those thoughts that are going through your head to get the pain out of your legs.

"But I really focused a lot in the last two months for this time trial, more than anything you do for an NRS race and the work paid off.

"I'm really proud of what I've done the last 12 months, I've worked really hard and holding down a full time job as well and fitting in all the training, it was a fantastic day.

"So it really shows that although I do work nine till five, you learn to become really good with your time management.

"You've only got certain hours in the day and you've got to make the most of it."

The former mountain-biker and triathlete turned cyclist is not part of the AIS or national program, but rides for the Bicycle Superstore women's National Road Series team.

Her surprise victory now means she will re-assess her goals for 2014 which could include the possibility of aiming for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"I go back (to work) on Monday and we have a busy fire season, so we'll see what happens with cycling," she said.

"They're very, very good with putting up with me taking time off and we'll see what options come up.

"The first goal was to get through the nationals today and see what result came out of it.

"We knew it was going to be very tough to go one, two or three.

"Now it's a matter of sitting down with my coach Mark and my partner Dave and my team and working out where to from here.

"Perhaps Comm Games is an option and I won't say no, I'm prepared to work really hard, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and if they want results I'm prepared to work really hard to get them."

Wardlaw said trying to enjoy her cycling was the key to getting results.

"I'm 36 years of age and you do question yourself - you think 'gosh can I put my body through this again?' because it is very tough," she said.

"But I enjoy it and I think that's what's bringing me the results. I really love it and I love riding with my team, we have so much fun and I think that's an important factor.

"It doesn't feel like a chore when I go out there and race my bike."

TOP 10 RESULTS
1. Felicity Wardlaw 38:46
2. Shara Gillow 39:18
3. Bridie O'Donnell 39:23
4. Katrin Garfoot 39:24
5. Tiffany Cromwell 39:41
6. Gracie Elvin 39:49
7. Amanda Spratt 40:32
8. Taryn Heather 40:40
9. Lauren Kitchen 41:30
10. Louisa Lobigs 41:39