PROFESSIONAL cycling coach Jason Koop is in Bermuda this week running an Easter camp and has been overwhelmed with the response.

Around 45 children have turned up ? an even better turn-out than in December when Chris Carmichael, coach of six-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, put 15 youngsters through their paces.

Koop, who works for Carmichael, said he was impressed with the enthusiasm which greeted him.

"It's very hard for us to get this sort of turn-out in a city much bigger than Bermuda. To see this sort of turn-out is absolutely amazing to me.

"We have everyone from entry level kids who have got their first bike this week to people hoping to qualify for the Junior Worlds."

Training at Clearwater Beach has centred on skills rather than fitness which will stand them in better stead in the racing environment which requires brain as much as brawn said Koop.

"The 14-15-year-old who does not have skills but has fitness will always be up at the front of the pack working hard."

But a more cunning cyclist will remain in the pack conserving energy until it's time to pounce, said Koop who said skills picked up would transfer into other sports.

"Very few, if any, of these kids are going to be professional cyclists but most of them will play recreational football, basketball or golf."

As well as working on pace riders have been having slow bicycle races ? which are great for picking up balance. It was won by the youngest rider ? a seven-year-old.

"That will transfer to soccer. When you kick the ball you balance on one foot for a moment but this will help keep you steady. It will also help with a golf swing.

"You can develop that skill quite rapidly on two very skinny wheels."

This is an important point for Koop, who comes from a running background. He would like to come back to teach other sports people.

Other balancing exercises include picking up a water bottle while moving.

He said the kids were happy to join in, whatever the activity. "They just want to ride their bikes ? it doesn't matter whether it is up hills. They are very, very open to drills."

The trip organised by the TriHedz junior triathlon club was made possible by the generosity of The Wineinger Family and Rennaisance Re.

Triathletes Flora Duffy, Geoff Smith and Matthew Godfrey, who hope to the Junior World championships in Japan in September, have been on hand to help out.

Youngsters have been split into four groups for the three-day clinic which finishes today but local cyclist Neil de ste Croix, who has been helping out, said there could have been even more signing up but for the Easter holidays which saw people off the island.

"It's been excellent. We could easily have had 60 but for the break."

He said the Bermuda Triathlon Association were planning another camp in July while the Bermuda Bicycle Association were planning a camp a week later.

He has been out with cycling with Koop and introducing him to the island.

Koop said: "The roads are beautiful but very narrow and it's been a while since I rode on the left hand side.

"I love the colours and the terrain is very different from Colorado where I am 6-7,000 feet higher.

But most of all he was impressed with the kids' attitude. "It's really moving and inspiring."