Bermuda cyclist Kris Hedges has claimed his first victory as a Pro One and Two rider.

The Bermudian, who races for the Snow Valley team in the United States, was racing in Maryland at the weekend in the All American Road Race.

The event is run over 70 miles with 800 feet of climbing on each 10-mile lap.

"The rest of my team were not there because of the Crit Nationals (in Chicago)," said Hedges. "That took half of my team away and gave me the freedom to race my own race for once."

Hedges said he played a patient game before making his move.

"There was an early break with quite a few riders but I was little worried being by myself," he said.

The rider said he laid low for a while before he and three other riders caught up the lead group.

"We closed in pretty quick and once we got there we kept the tempo up. That was a little fast for the early guys because they had been out there the whole time. One by one we lost riders and it ended up just being three of us, so it came down to a three-off sprint."

The finish was uphill and Hedges said he waited until the last moment before making his move and beating the other pair to the line.

"The second placed rider was an old team-mate of Elliott (Hubbard's). That was kind of interesting," he said.

Hedges, who is more accustomed to being a team player at Snow Valley as one of its newest members, said he was glad to get his maiden victory under his belt.

"It feels good. Had I not been working for the team in a lot of races earlier on, the first win could have come a lot sooner," he said. "That is the reality of the sport. That's the way it is - it's a team sport."

Hedges next ride is in Virginia this weekend.