Elliot Hubbard will compete against one of the cyclists involved in the Tour de France drug-taking scandal when he wears the Bermuda colours at next month's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

Australian Neil Stephens, a member of the Festina team expelled from the Tour de France, was selected this week to represent his country in the men's road race at the Games.

The 34-year-old has denied any wrongdoing even though three of his Festina team-mates admitted using banned substances.

The 28-member Australian squad, which also includes three-time 1,000 metres time trial world champion Shane Kelly, is expected to dominate the cycling events in Kuala Lumpur.

And with strong competition also expected from countries like Canada and England, Hubbard knows what he will be up against as possibly's Bermuda's lone competitor.

"In the bike race it's not always the strongest guy who wins, it's very unpredictable,'' Hubbard said this week during a short break back home.

"It's always a disadvantage not having the support of a team but hopefully I can work my way around that by trying to race smart. If the legs are good on the day then I could be in contention.'' A few years ago Hubbard was merely gaining experience at the major cycling events, but now the 24-year-old goes into races expecting to be competitive.

Earlier this month he was denied victory in a meet in the Tour de Toona stage race in Pennsylvania by just one second.

"I don't want to just participate, I want to be in contention for a good result,'' he says.

"I know I can race at that level, it's just a question of putting it all together on the day.'' And the confident Bermudian knows where his competition will come from.

"The Canadians are going to have a very strong team with riders like Brian Walton, Mark Walters, guys I race with on a regular basis who are always in contention,'' he said.

"Then there will be strong teams from Australia, South Africa, England, so it won't be a walk in the park.'' Hubbard, who is residing in South Carolina, has enjoyed his first season with the New Jersey-based Navigators. His one-year contract expires at the end of the season.

"There is good potential for a renewal,'' he added.

"The team management is happy with my season and I get along with my team-mates. The second half of the season is going really well for the team.

We have definitely made our mark as a team to be reckoned with.

"If I'm riding for them next season I'll be pleased with that, unless something else every enticing comes along between now and then. When I signed on, the team expressed to me that they wanted to make this a long-term relationship.'' Hubbard recently spent two weeks in Spain with his team and enjoyed the experience. "It went fairly well considering it was the first time the team had attempted to race in Europe,'' he explained.

"A few of the riders found the going really hard, but out of seven riders three of us finished, myself and two team-mates.

"It was just a training exercise for us, so from that point of view it went well. Out of 24 teams we finished halfway down. The team has aspirations to do more races in Europe next season.

"We raced with world-class riders like Abraham Olano of Spain and Laurent Jalabert (world number one from France), guys who ride the Tour de France.'' Hubbard left on Thursday to rejoin team members for the US Pro Criterium Championships in Chicago this weekend.