IF Kirsty Broun went to clown school, she would have mastered one of its skills.
The 30-year-old juggled cycling with her career aspirations for a decade.
It was a stop-start business as she was spending lengthy periods off her bike to study then practise law.
"Being a lawyer, I found it hard because that generally consumes a lot of your time," she said. "It was such a juggling act to try and squeeze both in.
"I didn't feel like I was giving either one justice so I had to make a decision.
"Now I'm a full-time cyclist.
"It's very hard to give up a job you love but in saying that, I love cycling as well."
She reaped a reward from her choice to become a professional on Saturday as she completed the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic.
Broun was the first of the three females who competed in the 261-kilometre race to cross the finish line while she was also the first D grade rider.
She completed the race in six hours, 55 minute and 25 seconds, which was almost 27 minutes behind winner Joel Pearson.
She was 68th overall.
"I wasn't expecting much," she admitted. "I was a little bit under prepared for it because I've had three weeks off.
"I've been racing overseas for the last four months in the US and Europe for the Australian team. I needed some downtime."
The downtime obviously didn't hurt as being refreshed helped her soak up the two individual honours.
"I think this is the most prestigious race in Australia," she said.
"I watched it last year, which gave me motivation to do it this year.
"I just came fourth in the World Cup in Germany.
"This is on a similar level to that."
While Broun rode on the SEW Eurodrive team, her tactics were centred on training partner Patrick Hayburn, a fellow Queenslander in the Warrnambool City Council team.
"There was a breakaway 10 or 20 kilometres in," Broun recalled.
"I looked at him and thought 'all the boys in this break are going to exhaust all their energy, we've still got 200km to go'.
"It turned out to be the right move. After the second feed another break formed.
"I ended up finishing in the third bunch."
She conceded it was a tough task to gain the first female title as Rebecca Locke (6:55.25) was on her wheel.
"I went up to her after and shook her hand after we finished because she was very strong," Broun said.
"It was really challenging trying to match it with the boys."
Next for the Brisbane rider is plenty of hope after a bout of bad luck.
"I did sign a professional contract with a US team (Lipsmacker) three weeks ago but they folded," she said.
"Now I'm hoping to get an AIS scholarship to go away with the Australian team again."
There were originally five women in the classic, which would have been a record but two - Davina Summers and Peta Mullens - did not start.
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