Tom Barras successfully defended his Bermuda Grand Prix title, winning two of the three races of this weekend's event.

The UK rider won Saturday's Criterium at Morgan's Point, and then out-sprinted Jason White in a thrilling finish to yesterday's Time Trial in Hamilton. In-between he picked up third-place at yesterday morning's first race at Clearwater Beach.

Barras was pushed hard by Garth Thomson, and the HotTubes development team from the US, but with World Championships silver medalist Tony Gibb in his corner, the Brit managed to take the title for a second year running.

In the closing stages of yesterday's race it was Gibb who led the lead pack around the course, and he managed to hold them up long enough that when the last lap came around Barras could make a clean break.

It was the last race of the professional rider's season, and he was delighted to go out having won on a Hamilton course that was the same as the one used for the IBC Front Street criterium.

The start/finish line was in front of Butterfield Bank and took competitors to the Birdcage, made a 180-degree turn back along Front Street, up Burnaby Street, right on Reid Street, another right on Court Street and back onto Front Street.

"It was a tough race, the HotTube guys, and Garth Thomson, pushed us all the way, but with Tony Gibb had the power to hold them back all day," said Barras.

"The (weekend) was very challenging, there's only 30 guys in the race, but every year it's hard to win."

The Bermuda Grand Prix presents three very different challenges for the competitors, and Barras was thankful to have a full season of riding behind him coming into the weekend.

"You've got a hilly road race, a short time trial, and then a criterium, it's challenging stuff.

"I've been racing since March, and was in a professional team until they went bankrupt in May, and then I've been an elite rider with MSTina, myself and Tony Gibb, so I've done a full season of racing, so I'm about in peak fitness at the moment."

While Barras was taking the title, Bermuda Bicycle Association president Peter Dunne was watching the race to see how the local riders faired.

"We are also in the final week of selection of our squad for the Caribbean Cycling Championships that will be held in Barbados.

"All of our considered riders will be testing themselves with the overseas competition to demonstrate that they should be selected to represent Bermuda."

In yesterday's first race at Clearwater Garth Thomson took first place to add to the fourth he had in the first race, while White was third. HotTubes young-gun Lawson Craddock lived up to his biling as a talent for the future finishing sixth.

"We are thrilled to have had HotTubes," said Dunne. "They are all juniors but fantastic athletes, and he (Craddock) and the rest of his squad provide major competition for our top riders."