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PETA Mullens has become Bendigo's newest national champion.
The 26-year-old ruled the road to win gold in Saturday's duel for the elite women's crown at the Cycling Australia national titles at Buninyong.
"I really can’t believe it,” said Mullens.
“Of all the national titles. – I’m a mountain biker, and I’d still prefer to win this one.”
At the end of the 102km race it was Mullens who outsprinted Rachel Neylan for the gold.
Mullens ends her national campaign with gold in the road race and silver in the criterium.
An Australian representative in mountain bike racing, which included the cross-country at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Mullens went to the road titles in hot form.
Neylan, the silver medallist at the 2012 world championships, broke clear on the second-last lap.
Mullens joined her and the pair quickly built a decisive lead.
The Bendigo star had her arms in the air inside the last 50m as she sprinted clear for the win.
Shara Gillow, who won Thursday's time trial, went clear by herself on the last lap and finished 22 seconds behind Mullens and Gillow for the bronze medal.
Bendigo has had two gold medal victories at these road nationals.
Chris Hamilton, a training partner and Bendigo MTB clubmate of Mullens, won the under-23 men's criterium on Ballarat's streets.
Another of Bendigo's rising stars, Tayla Evans finished fifth in the under-23 women's road race on Saturday.
Evans claimed bronze in the under-23 criterium.
The national road championship victory raises questions about what Mullens does this season.
Her main aim is making the mountain bike team for the Rio Olympics, but she will also want to wear the national champion's jersey in European road races.
Earlier in the day, South Australia's Miles Scotson won the under-23 men's road race.
It was a golden double after Scotson took out the time trial.
In the road race, Scotson beat South Australia Sports Institute team-mate Alex Edmondson as Alistair Donohoe fought on to be third.
Bendigo's Jack Haig was eighth.
South Australian-based George Tansley who hails from Mandurang was 27th.
National under-23 criterium champion Chris Hamilton was 36th as Bendigo clubmate and last year's Bendigo International Madison track classic winner Sam Crome was 37th.
Scotson won the Merv Dean Memorial Bendigo and District Cycling Club three-day tour in 2012.
Top 10 in the women's elite road race, 102km:
Peta MULLENS, Bendigo, 2 hours 55.29 minuutes.
Rachel NEYLAN, SA, +0.
Shara GILLOW, Queensland, +22
Tessa FABRY, Victoria, +1:02
Kendelle HODGES, Victoria, +1:10
Lizzie WILLIAMS, Victoria +1:10
Samantha, DE RITER, Victoria +1:10
Ruth CORSET, Queensland, +1:10
Lauren KITCHEN, NSW, +1:10
Tiffany CROMWELL, SA, +1:10