PETA Mullens became Bendigo's latest national cycling champion when she won Saturday's elite women's road race at Buninyong.

A six-time winner of national titles in mountain bike racing, Mullens achieved what she called the biggest win of her career.

"This is the pinnacle of cycling," she said after the 102km duel on the gruelling Buninyong circuit.

"It's a dream come true."

Her nationals campaign began with silver in the elite criterium on Ballarat's streets.

Mullens cast away doubts from previous starts at Buninyong by being a lot more aggressive.

She caught Rachel Neylan late in the race and the duo powered away.

Mullens said a lot more work on endurance and power in her training paid off.

"The pre-race plan was more about being in a sprint finish than a breakaway.

"When Rachel went I just couldn't help myself in trying to chase her down.

"In any race it's about being prepared to take a risk and being positive.

"Today I was lot more positive than at other times in the road nats," said Mullens, a previous monthly winner in the 50-year history of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Advertiser-Prime 7 Sports Star of the Year award.

Her major goal is to race at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"The number one plan is in the mountain bike cross-country," said the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games representative in that discipline.

"After today there might be a change to racing plans.

"I will enjoy this victory and then contemplate over the next few days about what to do in next in terms of racing and training."

The gold medal victory followed the win by Bendigo clubmates Chris Hamilton in the under-23 men's critrium and bronze by Tayla Evans in the under-23 women's critrium.

"They both had fantastic championships," said Mullens.

Many of the training kilometres that Mullens has racked up were and will continue to be alongside Hamilton.

Both have represented Australia in MTB classics.

The fan club for Mullens throughout the road titles in Ballarat and Buninyong included partner and cycling star Jarrod Moroni.

"Support from family, friends and sponsors means so much," said Mullens who is helped along by Sram, Seight Custom Clothing and Yeti Bikes. 

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