Dominique Mayho says it is difficult to predict who will win each of the Bermuda Bicycle Association National Championship titles, such is the strength of the island’s emerging talent.

The first of a triple-header of national titles will be decided on Sunday in the CG Insurance National Time-Trial Championships, comprising six laps of a three-mile course, starting and ending at Clearwater Beach in St David’s.

While Mayho himself is not competing in the time-trial, he is looking forward to an exciting race with all of the overseas-based riders, including Kaden Hopkins, Conor White, Nicholas Narraway and Liam Flannery, returning to battle for the crown.

“I’m really looking forward to the race,” said Mayho, who will be taking to the start line of the road race next weekend. “I won’t be racing, I don’t particularly enjoy the time-trial as it doesn't suit my strengths, but I can’t wait to watch them all battle it out because it should be a great race.

“There is a group of five or six riders who are super strong now, so it will be great to see what they can do.

“It’s so much harder now than it was before to predict who will win these national titles because that level has risen so much.

“If it was a straight and flat time-trial course, then you would say Conor has the power advantage with his strength, but on a more technical course like we will see on Sunday then it favours Kaden a little more. The course could prove crucial in the end because it is very technical and challenging.

“You then have Nick and Liam, who are capable of pushing those guys all the way and Alexander [Miller] has shown how strong he is becoming.

“It certainly should be closer than it has been in years gone by because most of those guys are cycling overseas and so that training really brings them on because it is amazing to train and cycle at those levels.

“It would be amazing to see one of the young riders like Alexander win, but I just think that extra experience of a Kaden or Conor will come through at the end. The pressure is definitely more on those two because the expectation will be all on them.”

Having dominated the local cycling scene for near on the past decade, Mayho is delighted to see the emergence and growth of the sport on island.

He pointing to four cyclists being selected for the Commonwealth Games as a testament to the healthy state of Bermuda cycling.

“It’s amazing to see how the sport has progressed and these riders coming through together,” added Mayho, who so often flew the flag solo on the international stage throughout his career.

“To have not just one cyclist representing Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games but four altogether is just incredible and just proves the level these guys are at.

“It’s a real testament to the riders and the association that we can now go away and complete strongly as a nation. I had times where I would go away on my own and almost be a sitting duck in a race. Now the male riders can support one another and actually have some team tactics.

“I can say I’m proud of the little bit I have done to help bring through some of the younger riders and pass on my experience. Hopefully, they will all give back as well and it will continue to create a snowball effect to help cycling on island continue to grow.”