Record breaking conditions have brought debut national road cycling honours for former Olympic rower Sonia Waddell and Commonwealth Games track medallist Wes Gough in the time trial at the New Zealand Championships in Christchurch.
Gough, a member of New Zealand's team pursuit combination, took advantage of favourable winds to finish the 40 kilomere race against the clock in 48 minutes 50.48 seconds.
He held off pursuit team-mate Jesse Sergent and Melbourne-based Greg Henderson and took more than a minute off Gordon McCauley's record set on the course in last year.
Earlier Waddell improved on her fourth placing last year to dominate the women's contest over 25 kilometres in 34:53.59, with Jaime Nielsen second and Alison Shanks third 20 and 33 seconds back.
Jason Christie edged out the defending champion Michael Vink to win the under-23 title by just nine seconds.
The 123km eight lap women's road race is today and the 187km men's race is on Sunday.
