The former Bathurst Cycling Club member had actually raised her hand to congratulate competitor Gina Ricardo after she thought she was beaten over the finish line, but after further inspection from technology, it was confirmed that Watts had actually won.

The result marks back-to-back titles in the women's road race event for the Lithgow native and also marked the final crown in the Bathurst Cycling Classic 'grand slam', after winning the division one hillclimb and criterium titles on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Watts, who races in the Sydney Uni Velo Club alongside Ricardo, said the finish was something she's never seen before.

"I actually put my hand up to congratulate her. It wasn't even a celebration hand, it was a 'She got it, good on her'," he said.

"She had been trying it for all weekend. It was an interesting race, an interesting finish. I've never seen anything like it."

Watts and Ricardo broke away from the pack within the first 30 kilometres of the race, as the battle for Rockley Mount heated up, with the Lithgow native getting there first to win the minor Queen of the Mount title.

With just under 10 kilometres left, Watts and Ricardo had developed a massive three and a half minute lead ahead of the chasing pack and it soon turned into a sprint race as they came down William Street.

To a bystander, it was hard to know who had a crossed the line first but Cycling NSW quickly confirmed over the speakers that Watts had won.

"I've came in with good legs, coming off form from nationals," Watts said.

"I was having a flyer doing stuff like track.

"At 30 kilometres, we climbed it up the hill really fast. It was whoever who could sit on my wheel and Gina was the lucky one who scored it.

"We just TT the whole way and once we had a minute ahead of the rest, we decided to go for a bit more tempo and take the pace off a little bit."

Nicole Wilson claimed the third and final podium position, confirming a Sydney Uni Velo Club clean sweep in the top three positions.

Watts said she enjoyed the local support throughout the event.

"I went to school here and the Bathurst club was my first club, so I am a local," she said.

"It is pretty great to hear all the cheering. Out on the road everyone is cheering, 'Emily, Emily'. You never hear your name out there on the roads when you're in Sydney."

While any serious rain stayed away during the race, there was plenty of wet surfaces throughout the 100 kilometre course, however, Watts said the conditions didn't make much of a difference.

"It did make a little bit of a difference," she said.

"I almost came unstuck at Mount Panorama on the descent. I decided that breaking on a white line is a good place to break, which we all know is not.

"It got a bit heavy and I thought it was going to be a miserable race but then it slowed done. The rain doesn't play too much of a part, it's just more the cornering."

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