the front of the pack following the four-stage Bermuda Grand Prix which started with Friday night's two hour criterium and concluded with yesterday's 75-mile road race.

At 42, an age when most are on the downside athletically, Hopkins showed that there still remains life in his battle scarred limbs and his more youthful counterparts will have to wait a bit longer for their moment in the `sun'.

"At 42 I wasn't sure what to expect coming in but everything worked out well for me and I'm glad to win,'' said Hopkins, cradling daughter Morgan who did not appear nearly as thrilled at the accomplishment of her father.

"I was prepared for it. I've been doing a lot of hard training and it paid off today.

"I really wanted to do it for Bermuda and have a Bermudian win it. It's our event and while we're all grateful for the American riders coming here it's always good to have Bermudians do well at home.'' After winning Saturday's five mile prologue time trial and placing well in the ensuing 30-mile short circuit race, Hopkins entered yesterday's final stage with a tenuous 14 second advantage over American Rob Neal.

Neal did his best to wear down the field as he set a torturous pace from the start, separating the pretenders from the contenders. But his efforts were ruined when he crashed five laps from the finish, leaving his face a bloodied mess.

Ultimately Neal was forced to settle for second place, with Hopkins' New Winners Edge team-mate Stephan Carpentier third.

Enduring a similar fate to Neal was Kevin Topple, who produced a one man breakaway that lasted for more than five laps, but was derailed by a series of punctures that took him out of the running.

Local Mike Lee attempted a similar break with three laps remaining but was reeled in by the chasing pack two miles from the finish.

At the end Bob Schuler, who won Friday's first stage on Front Street, again used his tremendous sprint power to take the chequered flag followed by MacInnes Looby and Neal, with Hopkins fifth.

Schuler, more accustomed to competing on the track and not expected to challenge for the overall, took solace in his showing which comprised the two stage wins and fifth place overall.

"I'm really happy and glad everything worked out,'' said Schuler, representing the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based Tri-State Cycling Team. "I rode consistently today and saved a lot of strength, hoping that it would come down to a bunch sprint and it did.

"It was real windy out there. The rest of the guys rode a real strong race.

Those guys were doing all the pulling and I was just hoping I could stay with them on the hill and it all worked out and they wound it up to my speed for the sprint.'' Among the junior category Kris Hedges stood out as he held on to take the category, placing first in the 25-mile final stage after entering with a slim two second advantage over Duncan Simons.

It was a case of sweet revenge for Hedges, who had been upstaged by Simons during the early part of the cycling season.

"I was quite confident coming into today. I knew to watch out for him (Simons) and I was just trying to stay with him going around the course, making sure he didn't get away on any breakaways,'' said Hedges, one of the sport's rising stars.

"It feels good to be champion, because we have the May 24 race coming up, so I'll be going in as one of the favourites and that's nice to know.

"I'm also hoping to do a few races in the States. The BBA (Bermuda Bicycle Association) is thinking of sending a group of us off to a cycle camp, so hopefully I'll be on the squad to go and I'm looking forward to that.'' Simons finished 21 seconds behind Hedges, with Chad Townsell third, a whopping one minute, five seconds further back.

Visitor Steve Lehman finished as the Veterans champ followed by Richard Mason and Martin Bolton.

Paul Shrubb took the Senior III title over Chris Walker and John Hateley, while another American, Marci Harnish, rode off with the women's crown, beating locals Melanie Claude and Margaret Hateley, who were second and third respectively.

WINNING EDGE -- Greg Hopkins (second right) leads a chasing pack during the early going in yesterday's 75-mile road race. On the far right is Sinclair Packwood, while second from left is Neil de Ste. Croix.