Mountain bike specialist Chris "The Hurricane" Hamilton stormed home along Sturt Street to capture criterium gold.
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The 19-year-old turned to the Cycling Australia Road National Championships to sharpen his game for his preferred discipline and collected the men's under-23 title in a strong sprint finish from Queenslander David Evans on Wednesday night.
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Hamilton, from Bendigo, said road racing was a lot more tactical than mountain bike racing.
He stuck to coaching advice to "play it smart".
"I think I'm getting better at it," Hamilton said.
"I wasn't sure what to expect (in nationals).
"I'm happy with my form in the Bay Crits this week and I've done everything possible I could've."
Hamilton said the race "wasn't doing much" when he and Edwards made their break with Victorian Matt Ross, after the second sprint.
He said it was the best way he could give himself a chance to win.
Together with Edwards and Ross, Hamilton built a 10-second lead with seven laps to go.
It was just Hamilton and Edwards by the bell lap with an eight-second lead on the peloton.
Queenslander Jesse Kerrison was third by several lengths.
"We (Hamilton and Edwards) were really working well together and I was feeling confident...I just had a bit more left at the end."
Large rain drops threatened the field mid-race.
About a dozen riders in the main field were caught in a crash on the bottom corner with four laps to go.
Hamilton said even he felt his rear wheel start to slip mid-race - he kept his balance for what he says is the best win of his life.
Aiming for the 2016 Rio Olympics, Hamilton said his passion remained in the mountain bikes.
But he was loving this road race meet.
"Just to win an Australian championship is just amazing," Hamilton said.
