youngest.

Jeff Payne, the 1997 winner, will definitely command more respect than he did a year ago when he turns up at the starting line in Somerset on Monday morning. But the other contenders may be wise not to concentrate too much on the 1997 champion at the risk of ignoring one or two dark horses, namely teenage trio Tyler Butterfield, Nuri Latham and Jonathan Herring, all of whom Payne thinks could be serious contenders.

"Wouldn't that be brilliant,'' said Jeff Payne, the 58-year-old former president of the Bermuda Bicycle Assocaition and the defending national time trial champion.

"It would be just the best thing for our sport because we have a nucleus of very good young riders but you can never have too many. If other young riders who are not competing yet but see this and are encouraged by it, then it would be great for us.

"The strength of any association lies in its young people and it's great to see three riders so competitive with each other all the time. I think they'll play a major role this year.'' Payne is thus not just worried about the usual contenders but also about the emerging youngsters.

"We have probably a stronger field this year with the three juniors shouing very, very fine form,'' Payne stated. "Over such a short distance (13 miles) this is tailor-made for the juniors. Those guys just rev so high for short periods that they are difficult to deal with. So they are a new equation in it.'' Payne knows his bid to defend his title will not be an easy, but neither is he content to sit back and revel in his surprise victory last year.

"No one gives it up easy,'' said the champion. "I would like to be competitive for another few years.

"My philosophy in cycling is the same as it's been in running: You're in it to win it and you do the best you can. If you can't win it, you want to come second.

"There are not a lot of riders in there who will be thinking they are happy just to get to the finish. It's so short and people are so motivated that May 24 for Bermuda is important and it's the chance to showcase what we're doing in front of the general public.

"Everyone want to put on a good show for the public and let them see that all the training we do during the year when we get in the way of their cars is not for nothing, but part of an entertainment package.'' It was near the Port Royal gas station last year that Payne and Aaron Schindler made a break from the lead pack. But it wasn't until a few miles later that Payne felt he had a good chance of victory.

"I think the race was probably won when we got to the top of Burnt House Hill and no one was in sight on the hill,'' said Payne.

"The hill is long enough where you can see 30 or 40 seconds worth of climbing and with only six miles to the finish they had to pull back 10 seconds a mile.

"You've got to seize an opportunity. There is a little window and if you get through it than you've got a chance.''