Bermuda's national team has returned home from the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championship in Barbados with valuable racing experience under their belt.

The team of four riders included Thomas Godfrey, Aaron Place and Timothy Fox in the junior category (17-18 years old) and Philip Woolridge in the juvenile group (15-16 years old). It had originally been scheduled for mid-August but was postponed due to Hurricane Dean.

The two-day competition included an individual time trial last Saturday in which Godfrey finished the 25 km route with the fifth fastest time, around two minutes off winner Barbadian Adam Crebbin.

In the Juvenile time trial Woolridge finished a credible ninth, three minutes behind Quenten Winkel of Curacao over the 15 km route.

The road race on Sunday was held in Barbados' capital Bridgetown with the juvenile race setting a fast pace from the opening gun, with Woolridge finishing eighth.

In the junior race Place covered many of the early escape attempts of others, keeping the peloton together for Godfrey and team sprinter Fox.

But in an unfortunate tangle of wheels, Place was thrown to the tarmac but was able to continue. Fox dropped back to help bring him up to the peloton but the duo were not able to close the gap.

Godfrey, an almost certain podium finisher, lost traction due to the rain soaked surface and slid into the curb. On the final lap he fell again eventually finishing the race in 15th.

Fox and Place were pulled from the course before the conclusion, as the lead group was about to lap them.

Bermuda Bicycling Association president Peter Dunne, who accompanied the team along with coach Neil de ste Croix, said the team came away from the competition with experiences that will serve them well.

"Bermuda's squad should be motivated for next year's event, probably held in Curacao, and maybe in the next few years we can not only collect some medals but also develop a plan to host this event."

The second annual Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships is organised by the Caribbean Cycling Federation, of which Bermuda is one of 25 member countries.