It?s the shortest cycling race in Bermuda, but for every local rider the 12 miles between Somerset and Hamilton on May 24 represents the most important, most prestigious date on the cycling calendar.

For a cyclist to have their name engraved on the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Trophy guarantees a permanent place in local cycling folklore. And for the thousands lining the roads, the race always guarantees a fast, furious and hard fought battle all the way down to the finish line on Cedar Avenue.

This year?s race is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent years with no clear favourite to lift the trophy. And that will come as relief to some, as history has shown other than the three years that Kris Hedges predictably dominated the event, saddled with the pressure of being the ?man to beat?, the favourite has often faltered.

However, if results so far this season give an insight it to what should happen then the winner could come from three distinctly different categories ? youth, strength or experience.

Representing the youth will be impressive junior rider Ricky Sousa whose name is heard more than any as the most likely to stand atop the podium on Wednesday and with good cause.

Based in New Hampshire, the same area that Hedges rode as a junior, Sousa has been putting in some strong performances overseas and on a visit home earlier this year he sent warning signals to everyone when he won two races including the IBC Front Street Race, beating all the senior riders.

Should he live up to expectations, at 15 he would be the youngest rider ever to win the event.

If strength and power is to be the deciding factor then Canadian Garth Thompson stands head and shoulders above everyone else.

The six foot three inch National Mountain Bike champion has always proven to be a major factor in the race and in 2004 almost pulled off a victory after an explosive attack on Harbour Road left the rest of the field scrambling to chase him down, only doing so on the uphill finish in Devonshire.

With a change back to the traditional fast downhill finish on Cedar Avenue none of the riders will want to give him a lead going into Hamilton, but if he is on form many will not be able to do anything about it.

Second in 2005, Thompson will clearly want to take the top spot.

As for experience, 1999 winner Greg Hopkins enters the race as something of a reluctant favourite having won two, and placed second in the last three races on the Island.

The only rider in the field who competed in the first official May 24 bike race in 1987, at 52 he would be the first to admit that the explosive nature of the race, the short hilly course and the strength and exuberance of much younger riders weighs heavily against his chances of victory.

However, 2004 champion Wayne Scott, one of the most experienced riders on the Island, will once again be expected to contest the finish and despite recording no wins so far this season, unusually for him, the close friend of the late Sinclair Packwood always finds something extra on this special day.

On a day filled with passion and excitement generated by the crowds lining the roads, the race could once again prove too much for the favourites, leaving the door open for others to grab the glory in what many of the riders jokingly refer to as the Island?s only legal lottery.

But one thing?s for sure, the rider who stands on top of the podium on Wednesday will still feel like they?ve won a million dollars.