the Island's first-ever professional.

An outstanding performance at one of America's top events, the Killington five-stage race -- he finished fifth overall after yesterday's final stage -- has caught the eye of several leading professional teams.

Among those who have asked the 21-year-old Bermudian to submit resumes following his superb ride over the holiday weekend are Chevrolet-LA Sheriff, Saturn and Montgomerie Bell whose stables include some of America's best cyclists.

Following an enforced move from the south of France to the US earlier this year, Hubbard impressed the Saturn director when he finished as first amateur and 24th overall at the recent Tour de Toona.

But he went one better than that at Killington, leading a four-man breakaway during Saturday's third stage to jump into fourth overall and claim among his scalps current US pro champion Norm Alvis and top English rider Malcolm Elliott.

The overall title after yesterday's final stage went to Saturn's Irish-born rider Frank McCormack. Hubbard placed fifth, Elliott sixth and Alvis could manage only eighth.

Hubbard slipped one place to lie fifth overall after Sunday's fourth stage, a 45-mile criterium, but in a field of 170 riders, many of them professionals, he raised more than a few eyebrows as the only amateur among the top ten.

After a 21st place finish in the opening day's prologue, a 3.5 mile time trial, Hubbard dropped to 24th overall following Friday's 111-mile road race in which he finished 26th with the same time as the eighth placed rider.

However, it was in Saturday's 108-mile race over a mountainous course that his climbing prowess came to the fore as he led a breakaway after 45 miles.

Accompanying Hubbard were McCormack, American Scott Moninger, a member of the Chevrolet team, American Andy Bishop, who rides for Saab, and Canadian international Czeslaw Lukesczewicz.

McCormack eventually outsprinted Moninger to win in 4:12.44, Bishop took third in 4:13.03 and Hubbard placed fourth in 4:15.10 to leapfrog into fourth place overall.

In Sunday's 45-mile criterium, the Bermudian finished with the main pack but dropped to fifth behind Canadian pro Peter Wedge who was part of a small breakaway group.

And in yesterday's final stage, an 85-mile road race again over mountainous terrain, Hubbard finished ninth among a 15-rider breakaway group who were all given the same time.

Close friend and former training partner Greg Hopkins said last night: "Elliot's already done enough to impress a lot of people. The director of the Saturn team spoke to him after the Tour de Toona and wanted to see how he rode at Killington.

"Now three pro teams have asked him to submit resumes. I think there's every possibility he could receive an offer to turn pro.''