Cycling prodigy Tyler Butterfield is preparing for his biggest challenge yet -- to take on the world.

The talented teenager is set to pit his wits against some of the planet's top cyclists when he takes part in the World Cycling Championships in France next month.

Top triathlete Butterfield, 17, whose mother was a top runner and father an Olympian, has been entered in the junior category at the prestigious meet after impressing national coach Greg Hopkins.

He began his training in Bermuda under the coach's watchful eye before moving to the US to train and race with another of the Island's top riders, Kris Hedges of the Richard Sachs team.

Said Hopkins: "It was vitally important that Tyler got away from Bermuda to train and race at the highest level we could offer him.

"Kris gave us that opportunity by agreeing to take Tyler with him to his races in the US.'' Both riders have been based in Boston and early indications are that Butterfield is showing the benefits of participating against a higher calibre of opponents.

In the prestigious Killington Stage Race in Vermont recently he finished a gruelling 100-mile race alongside the professional riders despite suffering a flat tyre. And in the second stage criterium he finished with the top men despite half the field being pulled after they were lapped.

"Tyler has adapted very quickly to the pace of these races and is very confident on the bike,'' said Hopkins. "We have been working closely with Elliot Hubbard on his training schedule and it is paying off even at this stage.'' Hubbard will join Hopkins and Butterfield for the event in Bretagne, and will scout the course in advance in order to pass on tips and advice. "Elliot's experience is so great, he's really knowledgable because he's done a lot of these races alone. I don't have a team and so it's different when you don't have someone out there to help you out,'' Butterfield said.

The championships begin for the teenager on October 11 with the 25km individual time trial but it is the 126km road race three days later that is his main priority.

Butterfield said he was realistic about his chances, but was looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm just going for the experience and am trying to be in the best fitness I can be in given the limited time I have had,'' he said.

"I'm not going to let anyone just go away but I'm sure some people will be able to leave me behind because they are a lot stronger than me.'' Butterfield has four more races in the US before returning to Bermuda on September 18 for the CD&P Grand Prix. "That should be fun. I'm going to do the Thursday night criterium. I don't know if I'll finish that but I'm going to go as hard as I can and see how long I last. It will be good to race in such small areas with so many people -- that's what I need,'' he said. "I dont know if I'll finish all the days because four days of hard riding is maybe not what I need only two weeks before the championships.'' Though Butterfield himself is reluctant to talk up his chances in France, coach Hopkins knows he has an exciting young talent on his hands.

"I have known Tyler since he was born and have watched him develop through the years and he definitely is capable of riding at World Championship level,'' he said. "He has proved that already with his performances in the US.

"Tyler is very confident in his ability. I know he will go into the race strongly believing he can be competitive, but he will be by no means over confident. To complete the World Championship road race is a challenge in itself -- under normal circumstances I would say that's a realistic goal, but I think a realistic goal for Tyler is a little higher than that. "By no means am I saying we would expect him to come back with a medal but he is certainly very capable of staying in the thick of the action.'' Tyler to take on the best Speed merchant: Tyler Butterfield (front) shows the style which he hopes will bring him success at the cycling world championships next month.