Melanie Claude is raring to go ahead of the start of tonight's CD&P Grand Prix.

The Bermudian rider performed admirably among top class opposition at last month's Commonwealth Games and said she cannot wait to mix it with the professionals again over the next four days.

She has teamed up with regular partner Julia Hawley and the pair will be joined by Laura Schmidt and Catherine Powers to form the Bermuda Department of Tourism team.

“To be eligible in the General Classification, seeing as there is only Jules and I in Bermuda, we asked Chris Walker, who is co-ordinating everything, if he could put us together with a team,” she said.

“As there was only the two of them coming down that is how we formulated the four.”

Though the Manchester Games, at which Claude and Hawley competed in both the time trial and road race, were the high point of the year the pair still have some serious cycling ahead of them.

“Basically there was a bit of tapering just after the race and then we have been gearing ourselves back up to perform well in the Grand Prix,” said Claude.

“It's still undecided yet but there is still the Caribbean Championships next month. However, there hasn't been a decision made yet as to whether a female team will be going based on numbers.

“We are focusing on having a good weekend this weekend and then if all goes well, and depending on the decision, go for the Caribbean Championships. If not that then it will be the CAC Games at the end of November.”

Claude said she felt good, both mentally and physically.

“I am looking forward to it. I feel pretty pumped as far as going in, which is good considering it's getting late in the season,” she said.

“I think I am still in good form but one will no more once they come here.

“We will have our challenges ahead of us because quite a few of the women's field who were coming down were planning to go to this Canadian Grand Prix (cancelled at the 11th hour) so I am sure they will be in good form as that would have been an eight day event for them.”

Claude said the tougher the competition the better as far as she was concerned.

“It's a benefit being able to race on your home ground and to have a good calibre of opposition provides us with a great opportunity,” she said. “I like to be challenged. Whatever my placement will be I know I will have put a lot into it to get there. I don't want it to be a given.

“It puts more pressure on because the locals want to see you win everything and it makes it harder bringing pros in that I race against and have beaten me overseas but as I said I like those sort of challenges.

“Ideally, one would want to place in the top three because that would be a podium finish but without really knowing who I am racing against I wouldn't really want to state anything at this point.”

Canada's Team Mercury rider Gord Fraser, racing in the Mens Elite category, was forced to pull out yesterday due to “circumstances beyond his control”, Bermuda's cycling coach Greg Hopkins said.