Matthew Oliveira and Alyssa Rowse, the island’s top two junior riders, will face stiff competition as they bid for third straight wins in the Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix.

The grand prix, one of the highlights of the domestic cycling calendar, starts with the St George’s Hill Climb tonight.

Dominique Mayho will also be among the favourites in the three-stage event along with junior Kaden Hopkins.

Mayho, the island’s senior rider, will be hungry for a first win in six years after missing the previous four years while competing overseas. He has spent the past two years riding at the amateur level in Belgium. Mayho was the men’s champion in 2012 before finishing fourth in 2013 when Canadian James Cameron claimed the title.

Rowse, 18, will compete in the senior women’s category going head-to-head with Nicole Mitchell and Zoenique Williams.

Competition can be also expected from Ashley Estwanick, Rose-Anna Hoey and Erica Hawley, who has returned home from her exploits in the triathlon at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“We have a very competitive field this year, with all of the island’s top juniors challenging the senior riders in the adult categories,” Nigel Godfrey, the event director, said.

“These include Matthew Oliveira and Kaden Hopkins racing in the Adult Male A category, where they will directly challenge Bermuda’s top rider, Dominique Mayho, over the three days of racing.

“Adding to the mix is exciting young rider Jabari Whiteman from the PSL Cycling Club of Trinidad and Tobago, who will be known to the Bermuda juniors from the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships, but who will be an unknown quantity for senior riders. “Also choosing to race in Adult Male A is Nick Narraway who is starting to make his mark in local racing.”

Another visiting rider is former Bermuda resident Keith Johnson, 58, who will compete in the Masters division.

Johnson, who was in the US Navy, will be returning to the island for the first time in 30 years.

The grand prix continues tomorrow with the road race in St David’s at 7.30am and the Hamilton Criterium on Sunday at 9am.