Jan 6th, 09.  The 2010 NZ time trial champions won't be decided until Friday, but today Australia found it's green and gold champions in Amber Halliday and Cameron Meyer.

Halliday after her first cycling success - the NZCT Women's Tour of NZ ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Australian Women's Time Trial Champion - Amber Halliday

In the women's time trial former Olympic rower Amber Halliday claimed her first major Australian cycling title.

"I wasn't sure when I crossed the line, I still didn't believe it when I got back to the tent and I had to keep on asking my team," said Halliday.

Halliday retired from rowing in 2008 after competing at two Olympic Games and winning three World Championships in the light weight double skull.  

Halliday finished just two seconds outside of a podium finish in her championships debut in 2009. The following month she won the NZCT Women's Cycling Tour of New Zealand.

Today, the 30 year old shaved over thirty seconds off her 2009 time to complete the 28km course in a time of 40m57s to take the green and gold jersey.

"Towards the end of my rowing career, I always looked forward to my cross training ride on a Sunday morning, so I thought I would have a crack at cycling and see where it would get me."

"I feel like I have a lot more idea about what is going on this year and everything came together today," said the Adelaide sports journalist.

"I have always been one to not put big targets on myself and one of the reasons I took up cycling was to make the transition into normal life easier."

"I always concentrate on the process and just want to get to the height of my own ability, so after being on top of the world in rowing, (the goal) to get to the national level for cycling was not so unrealistic for me."

2008 champion Bridie O'Donnell took the silver in a time of 41m01s, four seconds behind Halliday. Carly Light took bronze in 41m59s.

Australian Men's Time Trial Champion - Cameron Meyer

Meyer claimed the coveted green and gold jersey of elite Australian Champion clocking 50m52s for the 39km course to finish 29 seconds faster than silver medallist, John Anderson, 22, (51m21s) another of Australia's new generation of cycling talent.

Meyer, 22, is the reigning track points race World Champion, was a bronze medallist in the U23 time trial at the 2008 World Championships and in his elite road debut last year finished with silver a mere six seconds behind three time World Champion, Michael Rogers.

Rogers decided not to race the time trial this year in favour of turning his own silver into gold in the road race this Sunday.

"This is a real honour and something I have been targeting for months," said Meyer who rides with the Garmin Transitions ProTour team. "Losing last year by just six seconds in my first year as an elite was tough, so this year I wanted to step up."

"I have won on the track at this level before, but to get one on the road at this level gives me great confidence ahead of my upcoming season," said Meyer who in his first year at ProTour level in 2009 raced in the Giro d'Italia and looks forward to doing so again this year.

"It's a special moment to get to wear the green and gold jersey over in Europe with my pro team and I might have the Giro this year so to wear it in such a prestigious event will be fantastic."

Australian U23 Time Trial Champions - Rohan Dennis & Josephine Tomic

In the under 23 men's time trial, it was a trifecta for Team Jayco Skins, with South Australia's Rohan Dennis claiming the win of West Australia's Luke Durbridge and Canberra's Michael Mathews.

Tomorrow the Australian's compete for the National Criterium Champion titles before a rest day on Friday.  The Women's and U23 road race is on Saturday and the Elite men's road race on Sunday - the same day as the NZ Elite men's road race.