Grace Brown had a long wait in the time trial hot seat and spent a long time contemplating what it would be like to win the UCI Road World Championships in her home country. Australian fans were also excited by the prospect, chasing the local hope's signature even before a winner had been decided.

Brown took the hot seat because she was the tenth player and the first serious contender to win. What was a surprise, however, was that perennial favorite Annemieke van Fruten came in 19 players late and was not even a footnote behind Braun. What had been a dream scenario for players and fans alike, a home win, was now far more likely to become a reality.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions up there," said the team's head coach, Anne-Miek Krause. At the beginning, Annemiek van Fruten was the top time trialist on this course, but she clearly didn't have the best time."

The world number one ranked rider, who has won two world titles and an Olympic gold medal in this discipline, finished the 34.2 km time trial a minute and a half behind Brown.

"From that moment on, I started to have hope that maybe I could make it, but obviously the last two riders, (Marlen) Reusser and (Ellen) van Dijk, were first through the first checkpoint.

The journey to the top slot did not end until defending champion van Dijk crossed the line on a course that started and finished in central Wollongong. Dutch rider Reusser finished third, more than 41 seconds behind Van Dijk.

"My goal was to be on the podium, my dream was to win the race," Braun said in a post-time trial media conference. I achieved my goal and I can still run towards that dream."

"It was great to win at home, but I'm still happy because it was a really special day.

While satisfied with her performance at the Road World Championships and her first podium, she is certainly aiming for more with the Women's Elite Road Race looming.

"I'm hungry to get closer to the rainbow jersey," Brown said.

"It's a bit of a big goal to go for both the time trial and the road race, but honestly, I'm optimistic because I think I can do a good race in the road race as well. But I'm going to celebrate this first and take it easy for the road race next Saturday."