BENDIGO'S Chris Hamilton outgunned all rivals on Ballarat's streets to win the under-23 criterium in Wednesday's start to Cycling Australia's national road championships.
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It was almost a golden double for Bendigo as Peta Mullens finished runner-up in the race for the elite women's criterium for a second year running.
In a career where he has mixed mountain bike, cyclo-cross and road racing, Hamilton rated the crit the biggest win of his career.
"It's an incredible feeling," the 19-year-old said shortly after being presented with the gold medal and Australian championship jersey.
"All the training and hard work has paid off."
Both criterium races were punctuated by many attacks and counter-attacks in the sweltering conditions.
Racing in the Avanti colours, Hamilton was among the first of the significant breaks and then teamed with David Edwards from Charter Mason to stay clear of the chasing pack.
Hamilton reigned supreme in the dash for gold on Sturt Street.
"Being in a breakway was always going to be my best chance of winning," Hamilton said.
"There were a lot of really talented sprinters in this race, so I couldn't bank on winning the sprint."
He and Edwards worked together over 13 laps to hold off the peloton.
Racing at the Mars-backed national titles for the second time, Hamilton thrived on the challenging street circuit.
He dashed for gold ahead of Edwards as BMC development rider Jesse Kerrison won the bunch sprint for bronze.
Hamilton's lead-up to the nationals included fourth placing in last Monday's leg at Williamstown in the finale to the Mitchelton Bay Classic criterium series.
The confidence and form rolled on to Ballarat.
Hamilton said tips from Andrew Christie-Johnson played a big part in his success.
“I haven’t really done a lot of road racing in my time, but I sort of just put together everything Andrew has taught me and it all came together."
He was rapt to see Bendigo MTB clubmate Peta Mullens race to second place in the women's elite criterium,
Another of Bendigo's rising stars, Tayla Evans fought on to claim bronze in the under-23 class of the women's crtierium.
Hamilton and Mullens have racked up many kilometres in training and have represented Australia in mountain bike racing.
Mullens was to the fore for a lot of the criterium in Ballarat.
Just three days after achieving victory in the Bay Crit leg at Portarlington, Mullens put the pack under plenty of pressure with a daring attack.
Her big solo break ripped the peloton apart.
Those in the race were back together on the last lap and it was Canberra's Kimberley Wells who pounced to take victory ahead of Mullens and Lauren Kitchen.
The national criterium champion in 2013, Wells did not compete in Ballarat last year because of pneumonia.
The fast pace and tough conditions took their toll as only 19, less than half the field, finished the race.
The night's action was capped by a dramatic contest for the men's elite criterium crown.
Steele Von Hoff sprinted to glory ahead of Caleb Ewan and Scott Sunderland.
The CA nationals roll on to Buninyong for Thursday's time trials.
First of the under-23 men will roll from the starting gate at 10.30am.
The under-23 and women's elite time trials start at 12.30pm.
Racing for the elite men's time trial starts at 2.15pm.
