Three of Bermuda's top junior cyclists fly to Puerto Rico on Thursday to represent Bermuda in the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships (CCC).

After the frustration of the cancellation of the CD&P Grand Prix due to the arrival of Hurricane Florence, Thomas Godfrey (16), Tim Fox (15) and Philip Woolridge (15) will be anxious to race and test themselves against overseas competition.

The boys will be riding in the inaugural 14-16 age group race being staged in Hatillo, on the north coast of Puerto Rico, about 50 miles west of San Juan.

Bermuda will also be contesting the Elite Women's regional championships with sisters Kim and Deana McMullen forming a powerful two-woman team. Young rider Ashley Robinson was forced to drop out with an injury.

The CCC comprises an individual time trial on Saturday with a road race on Sunday. The women's time trial will be over a straight and flat 25 kilometre course, while the boys will race over 10 kilometres.

Last year, Bermuda's Lynn Patchett secured second place in this event.

The road race course also looks fast, with only one long ascent and a short, sharp descent in the 16.5K loop. The boys will race over two laps, for 33K, while the women will ride seven laps totalling 115K.

The long course could suit the McMullen sisters who have tremendous experience in endurance distances in triathlon.

This represents the first year in which the junior and women's races have been held at a separate venue from the men. Bermuda's top male riders will get their chance later in October in the British Virgin Islands.

Godfrey and Fox attend Saltus Grammar School while Woolridge is a student at Warwick Academy. Fox has just won the BBA 2006 season road race points series by just a couple of points from Godfrey.

Both boys have ridden competitively in Bermuda for the last five or six years, while Woolridge has shown considerable talent and promise in this his first season in the sport.

Kim and Deana McMullen, the latter married to National Mountain Bike champion Garth Thomson, are probably more well known for their exploits in triathlon, and have completed several half and full Ironman races between them.

BBA national coach Greg Hopkins has been overseeing the junior boys training, assisted by Neil De Ste Croix.

"It's difficult to judge what level of competition they will face, especially since this is the first race at this age group," said Hopkins.

"However, they have worked hard and are very well prepared. They need to stay focused and confident ? there's no telling what they could achieve."

The team will be accompanied to Puerto Rico by team manager Nigel Godfrey and mechanic/coach Grant Goudge.