The Ballarat 21-year-old claimed the sprint title in the Mars Cycling Australia Road Championships at Buninyong on Saturday.

Gillett had to produce the ride of his life to secure the jersey.

He narrowly avoided being lapped by the race leaders, which would have forced him to retire and ineligible to receive the sprint title.

Gillett had just the length of the home straight to spare, with the leaders breathing down his neck as he crossed the finish line for the bell in the 122.4km (12 laps) event.

World track champion and pre-race favourite Rohan Dennis (South Australia) won the road race title from Victorian Eric Sheppard in a two-way sprint, with Calvin Watson (Victoria) third.

Gillett picked up enough points for the title in a three-man breakaway in the opening six laps.

From there it was a battle to the line.

Gillett, who has been signed by an Italian-based team for this year, took 20 minutes to cover the last lap – much slower than regular race speed.

He said he had never found the Buninyong course so difficult than after getting the bell.

Gillett said he did not go into the championship planning to chase points in either the sprint or king of the mountain (in which he finished second).

“It’s just the way it worked out.

“There was a lot of pace on in the first lap. We got the break.”

Gillett, Brian McLeod and Tim Cameron led by one minute, 45 seconds after four laps.

In those early kilometres, Gillett and McLeod shared the lion’s share of the sprint and king of the mountain points.

Gillett said when he realised that he was a chance for a jersey he told McLeod it was “all bets off”.

Gillett said he thought he had his best shot at the king of the mountain title.

After taking a sprint as the peleton began to bear down on them, it was McLeod who won the battle for the king of the mountain points.

While Gillett knew that as long he was not lapped he would take home the title, his hold on the title was discussed by race officials after the “sag” wagon passed the group he was in at the tail of the field.

This issue was quickly disregarded, ensuring Gillett had his moment in the sun in his last year in the under-23 division.

He now plans to take a short break before heading overseas.