Women's TT championship for Garfoot

Katrin Garfoot has won the Australian time trial championship and is targetting gold in the event at the Rio Olympics.

Garfoot grabs first green and gold jersey at national time trial championships (Kathryn Watt) Source: Kathryn Watt

Now she has her first Australian championship, Katrin Garfoot is targeting cycling gold at the Rio Olympics.

The 34-year-old dominated the 29.3km women's individual time trial on day two of the nationals at Buninyong, near Ballarat.

She clocked 43 minutes and 16 seconds, 43 seconds clear of defending champion Shara Gillow. Tiffany Cromwell won the bronze medal with 44:54.

Garfoot only took up the time trial two years ago in the immediate lead-up to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

She promptly won bronze and last September Garfoot finished fourth at the world championships, just nine seconds behind New Zealand winner Linda Villumsen.

Garfoot still has to qualify for the Rio team, but her performance again showed she is well-placed to ride in the Games time trial.

Her radio communications were not working during the ride and Garfoot only found out how well she had ridden at the finish.

"It might have been good, because I kept pushing to the end," she said. It was a cocktail of being stuffed and being happy but I had to wait for the other girls to come in. It's always a waiting game and I was just hoping, wishing that it's not fourth again."

This was Garfoot's first time trial since the world championships and she was unsure of her form coming into the nationals.

Queensland coach Kim Palmer gave her a hard program and Garfoot said she only started feeling the benefits a few days ago.

She said the Glasgow bronze was a better feeling, because it was unexpected and there was not the pressure surrounding this year's national championship event.

The under 23 women's race was won by Emily Roper, holding off a fast finishing Ellen Skerritt who claimed silver and former winner Jennelle Crooks in bronze position.