Dunedin's Reta Trotman gave up attending her university graduation today but she well and truly graduated to the top echelon of cycling in this country with victory in the women's road race at the national club road championships in Hawke's Bay.
The 23-year-old was to graduate from a degree in nutrition to add to her physical education degree but she showed she had the right formula to beat a talented field including the Olympic track cycling quartet of Alison Shanks, Jaime Nielsen, Rushlee Buchanan and Lauren Ellis.
Trotman, a former national gymnastics representative, did more than her fair share of hard work, going clear for nearly half the race in a two-strong break. Shanks, Nielsen and Buchanan dragged two others up to the leading pair in the final of four laps in the 116km race over a testing circuit near Taradale.
Rather than wait for the final sprint, Trotman attacked again up the hills, receiving some help from Otago clubmate Shanks as the young rider remained clear to win in 3:13.30. Shanks won the sprint for second in the chasers 50 seconds back ahead of talented young North Harbour prospect Georgia Williams.
"The plan was to do a lot of work, may be not that much but in the end I got there,'' said Trotman. "I promised myself that I would attack on the hills no matter what because I don't have the speed of those track girls. I kept to my promise. It was awesome.
"I really put it down for about 10 hard strokes and looked back and couldn't believe there was no-one there. Ali was awesome. I was on the inside and she held them up and dropped the pace at the start of the hill a little bit which was great for me.
"I was meant to be at graduation with all my friends today. But I have definitely been thinking about this for a long time. It means a lot.''
Trotman was fourth in the national elite road championships and fifth overall and first New Zealander in the international Tour of New Zealand.
It was a good hit-out for the Olympic-bound track team, who mixed racing this week with training and major planning sessions before they head to the US to begin their concerted build-up for London.
Earlier Alexandra's Sophie Williamson edged out Wanganui's Cassie Cameron in a sprint finish to win the under-19 race over 87kms.
The pair, both medallists in last year's world junior track championships, are using the road to prepare towards this year's world event to be held on home turn in Invercargill in August.
"I love racing. I find it brings me up well,'' Williamson said. "That was pretty close, though.
"The road racing is a big part of the build up for me. I am pleased with my form this week which shows I have a good base.''
Williamson heads to the US in June to race and train in Milwaukee and Pennsylvania before heading home for the world championships.
"The world championships are going to be so big. To race at home in a world championship in front of your family and friends is going to be so awesome.''
Earlier former Commonwealth Games medallist Gordon McCauley edged out Auckland's Aaron Strong to win the masters 40-44 years race over 116kms, to reverse their result in the time trial earlier in the week.
The championships finish tomorrow with the senior men's race over 177kms.
