Neither will Julia Hawley, who's never met a race she didn't like. In fact, all but one of Bermuda's top triathletes are skipping Sunday's World Cup Triathlon, missing out on a rare chance to lock horns with the best in the business.

The decision, while entirely their own, came after a little nudge from the International Triathlon Union, which has implemented a new rule for the race, decreeing that any lapped athlete is yanked off the course.

So, given the choice between going through the usual build-up and then lasting, oh, 15 minutes, four of the five Bermudians initially invited opted for the better part of valour.

The exception is Dave Cash and for good reason: Cash happens to be probably the Island's best distance swimmer and might be able to hold his own at least until the run.

"It's just not worth it,'' said de Ste Croix, long Bermuda's king of triathlon but who struggled against the pros in last year's event.

"I think realistically, I would've got lapped,'' added Hawley, won has won every local race she's entered this year.

Both concede that swimming is the weakest of their three disciplines and it's conceivable both might've been overtaken on the second 750-metre loop. "I mean, I wouldn't even need to bring my bike,'' said de Ste Croix, only half-joking.

More importantly, both recognise that with the Bermuda national championships coming up next weekend, attempting to peak on consecutive weekends is not the wisest thing to do for a competitive athlete. And as active members in the Bermuda Triathlon Association -- de Ste Croix, 32, is president -- there are plenty of other tasks that need tending to this weekend.

Laurie Orchard and Kevin Tucker also bowed out, while other prominent triathletes such as Melanie Claude, Tyler Butterfield and Kris Hedges withdrew their names from consideration right from the start.

Cash is a 32-year-old former member of the national swim team and winner of this summer's open water swim series put on by the BTA. De Ste Croix calls him a "jet ski'' but even Cash, who only recently took up triathlon, will be fortunate to stay close on Sunday.

And staying close is critical because unlike local triathlons, drafting -- taking advantage of another competitor's slip stream -- is legal. Fall out of the pack, especially on the bike, and the chances of success are just about lost.

"As far as I'm concerned, they shouldn't have it,'' said Hawley.

"All it does is cater to good swimmers and good runners. It's huge. There's no incentive to take the lead. I've been in races where there's drafting and it's completely different. You can save an incredible amount of energy.

"Once you fall out of the pack, forget it. You'll never catch up.'' The lapping rule is less controversial; even de Ste Croix and Hawley, both as competitive as they come, say they're not overly disappointed.

The ITU, the governing body of the sport, implemented it in order to clear up congestion on the narrow Bermuda streets and to aid spectators attempting to follow the race. And "logistically, it's a lot easier (for marshalls and official time keepers),'' said race director Sutherland Madeiros.