her bid to qualify for the Sydney Olympics.

Claude has just returned from a training camp with the country's Etoile Cyclist Conde Sur Noreau team, who will help her to access World Series races which carry Olympic qualifying points.

And although the camp provided her with the new experience of team riding and a slightly different terrain, one of the main challenges was not connected with the sport at all.

"There were six elite girls, of which I was one, and six juniors,'' she said.

"And I was the only English-speaking one.

"It was certainly a big challenge to communicate and I'm definitely going to have to learn French. But my husband, Paul, comes from Quebec, so he'll be able to tutor me.'' Claude was initially invited to the training camp following her performances in the Montreal Grand Prix, where two members of the team were also competing, and in Killington, one of the US's biggest road races.

The rider, who took the Island's first cycling medal in a major event when she secured the time trial bronze at the World B Championships in Uruguay to top an outstanding season last year, added: "They also heard about my results in the CD&P Grand Prix and my husband talked to them.

Cyclist Claude keeps her sights on Sydney From Page 13 "He let them know I was interested in getting into a team to improve my chances of going to the Olympics.

"In order to qualify I have to do World Series events to get a sufficient number of points and for some of those events you have to be in a team rather than an individual rider.'' Claude trained with the team twice a day, concentrating on a combination of track and road work.

"The objective, I guess, was to give us the feel of performing together and to see what calibre we were,'' she said. "I was probably one of the strongest riders, the terrain was not too challenging. In fact it included a lot of rolling hills and coastal riding -- similar to Bermuda -- but not as technical.

"I am still waiting to hear what events they want me to enter, but hills are one of my strengths, whereas their girls are not really good hill climbers.'' One event that Claude, honoured by both the Bermuda Bicycle Association and in the Government Sports Awards recently, definitely has her sights set on is the Women's Tour De France in August.

The race is spread over ten days -- about a week shorter than the men's event.

"It's held in all different parts of France,'' said Claude, who will next join up with the team at the end of March. "You ride a stage in one territory and then get in your car to go to the next.'' Melanie Claude: looking to return to France soon.