The Island's top cyclists will be in action for the last time this year when a Bermuda team head south for Aruba this weekend to compete in the inaugural Caribbean Championships.

Four men will travel to the small island to race against the best of the Caribbean riders as well as an invited team from Columbia, while Bermuda's leading women, Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley, will just be looking for some fast times as they attempt to book a ticket to next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

A strong men's team of Kris Hedges, Geri Mewett, Wayne Scott and Steve Millington will be hoping one of them can come away wearing the first ever Caribbean Road Race Champions' jersey while Hedges will double up to compete in the 30 kilometre time trial.

Hedges will no doubt be the designated rider for Bermuda after an impressive season that has included local wins in the National Road Race Championships and the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race, as well as top international finishes with his US team, Snow Valley. His highlight, however, was probably a fourth place finish in the World B Championships in China earlier this year.

Although late in the year, Hedges says he's still looking forward to this weekend's racing.

"It is really late in a long season for me but I have managed to maintain a constant peak over the last few weeks for the championships," he said.

Regarding the invitation to the Columbian team, Hedges noted: "I raced against the Columbian team in Miami at the weekend and they looked strong. It will make the race awkward because they do not officially count for the championships but they will make the race difficult."

The only change to the local team from that which travelled to China is the absence of MacInnis Looby.

National coach Greg Hopkins said: "I'm very disappointed that Mac will not be coming with us. The organisers have restricted the teams to four riders. We asked them to reconsider but they wouldn't budge.

"He was an important element of the team in China and we wanted him with us. In fact, we wanted to take six riders.

"Mac has recently relocated to England and as we are arriving the afternoon before the first event, for him to come from England would have meant a big time change coupled with other logistical problems."

However, the presence of Mewett, who was unable to ride in China due to UCI regulations, will be a welcome addition in Aruba, said Hopkins.

"Geri is a very strong, powerful rider. The course in Aruba is very flat and will suit his style."

Meanwhile, Claude and Hawley will be travelling to do battle with the clock in what has been designated a 'men's only' championships and while that description may raise the ire of those who believe strongly in equality in sports, Hopkins, was a little more understanding.

"When we first received an invitation to the championships we were surprised and disappointed that there was no women's race," said the coach.

"However, on speaking to the organisers, it is clear that they want to walk before they run and did not want to take on too much in this, the first year for the event. We have been assured that if this year's event is well supported then next year will include a women's race."

Despite there being no official women's event, the 30K time trial is the required distance for local women trying to meet standards for them to be recommended to the BOA for Commonwealth Games selection, and as such Hopkins was successful in gaining an invitation for Claude and Hawley to race the TT during the championship event.

Hopkins added: "The distance, and the course in particular, which is totally flat, is an ideal opportunity to see if Melanie and Julia can meet the standards for Commonwealth Games consideration.

"I spoke to the organisers and asked if they would allow our women to race the course under competition conditions, so that their times can be ratified. Thankfully they agreed."

The standard the riders will be chasing is an average speed of 40kph.

Invited countries to the event are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The team leave Bermuda on Friday, returning on Monday.