in a creditable performance at the International Female Tour of Brittany in France where she placed 52nd in a tough field of 100 competitors.

Had she not suffered a mechanical problem when a spoke broke in the back wheel on the first day, Claude may have improved on her individual placing.

After the setback during the first event of the gruelling six-event classic over four days she was 72nd. And she did well to recover and make a significant climb up the tables over the following three days.

Her events included time trials, road races and a criterium.

Her French team Etoile Conde sur Noireau were hoping to use the event to impress their coaching staff for individual selection for the prestigious Tour de France Feminin `Grande Boucle' later this Summer.

Jeff Payne won three stages on his way to the overall title in the men's 60 plus category at the prestigious Coupe des Ameriques cycle race in Quebec, Canada on the weekend.

Over the four stages of the hilly stage race, Payne took top honours in his age group despite a puncture in the first stage, a 16.5-kilometre mountain hill climb which had 8 kilometres of flat followed by 8.5 kilometres up a mountainside to a ski area base station.

Julia Hawley contested the women's 30-40 category, winning one stage -- the criterium stage -- and despite a valiant effort in the 85-kilometre road race over five hills, she failed to catch the leader in her age group.

Hawley finished a very commendable second in her category over the four-stage race which was over a very tough course.