Tour de France star George Hincapie had diners spluttering over their aperitifs when he was announced as the surprise guest of honour at Saturday night's Bermuda Bicycle Association annual awards dinner.

Hincapie emerged after being announced to unsuspecting guests at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, moments after the arrival of Bermuda's lone, full-time, US-based cycling professional Elliot Hubbard had provided the first surprise of the night.

Hincapie is no stranger to Bermuda, having appeared in two CD&P Grand Prix, and like Hubbard, was greeted with rapturous applause.

BBA president Greg Hopkins, master of ceremonies on awards night, had arranged to fly the pair over from the US.

Yesterday morning Hincapie went for a two-and-a-half-hour training ride on the Island's roads, accompanied by Hubbard and Tyler Butterfield, who made an impressive debut at the World Junior Cycling Championships earlier this year.

Hincapie was a member of the US Postal team which won the last two Tours de France, with Lance Armstrong leading home the field.

Before flying back to the US yesterday, Hincapie told The Royal Gazette he was already making plans to return to the Island next September.

"I've been to the Grand Prix here a couple of times now and Bermuda is one of my favourite places in the world to visit when I can fit it into my schedule,'' he said.

"This is a quiet time of year for me, though I just started training again about two weeks ago.

"So when Greg Hopkins told me about the dinner and invited me along I jumped at the chance.

"The Grand Prix has got a good reputation because it's well organised and it's in a good situation, in a beautiful country with nice roads for cycling.

"And the cycling community in Bermuda seems to get bigger every year. I would love to come back next year, if my schedule allows it.'' Hincapie was full of praise for Armstrong, who beat cancer before conquering allcomers in the Tour de France two years running.

"Lance Armstrong is really an unbelievable story, to do what he has done after everything he's been through and I'm real proud to be his team-mate. I think he is capable of winning the Tour a third time as well.'' And Hincapie defended his sport in the light of recent revelations made in a French court case involving the Festina team, which suggested the taking of performance-enhancing drugs was widespread in cycling.

"I haven't really paid much attention to all that,'' said the 27-year-old.

"The last couple of years, the French press in particular have really been concentrating on drugs.

Tour star's surprise From Page 23 "All I can say is we cyclists know how hard we work and when we discuss our sport we don't really like to pay attention to such negative things -- particularly when it doesn't concern us.'' Hopkins was delighted at acquiring his star guest after several previous attempts.

"It was fantastic to get George here, finally,'' said Hopkins. "I have been speaking to him for three years and he has always wanted to come, but his schedule never permitted it.

"He spoke to everyone and said how since coming to Bermuda for the Grand Prix three years ago he has always felt welcome and has made some life-long friends here.

"Our young riders will always remember the evening as a special one, just as we all will. He really is a superstar in cycling right now.'' Steve Millington took the top award, Rider of the Year 2000. Kris Hedges, Geri Mewett, Melanie Claude, Julia Hawley, Jeanna Godfrey, Jeff Payne and Tyler Butterfield all won praise for their performances in overseas competitions, but Millington's dominance of the domestic scene gave him the trophy.

Millington won the National Time Trial Championships, the Time Trial Series, the Road Race Point Series and was third in the National Road Race Championships. And he also gave a creditable performance at the Killington Stage Race in September.

Julia Hawley won Most Improved Rider, while Chris Conway won the Most Improved Junior award.

Matthew Herring won Junior Rider of the Year, having won the National Time Trial and Road Race Championships, the Road Race Series and the Time Trial Series in the 13-14 category.

Sharing the award for the Club Person of the Year were Jennifer Hedges and Danielle Bezant, who were described as "the backbone of the sport in Bermuda''. The pair received a two-minute standing ovation.

In good company: Bermuda's lone cycling professional Elliot Hubbard (left) and rising talent Tyler Butterfield (right) flank US Postal Team star George Hincapie after the trio completed a training ride on Bermuda's road yesterday morning.