when he rode home 40 seconds ahead of the chasing pack in the 90-kilometre Grand Prix of Biot.

The youngster, dogged by mechanical breakdowns in most of his outings this season, finally enjoyed a trouble-free race, which saw him lead his rivals around the mountainous three-lap circuit near Cannes.

Hubbard was among a group of six riders who broke away on the second lap. But he did not share the lead for long. After a brave attack on the second of the course's two mountains, the Bermudian found himself out in front.

And he never looked back.

His impressive victory yesterday was his first senior division triumph, and it secured him a place on the Cote D'Azur team that will compete at the French national championships this summer.

After the race, Hubbard said he wanted to dedicate his first win to John Mills of the Bermuda Bicycling Association, and government statistiian Donald Scott, both of whom had helped him to get his cycling career on track.

Hubbard is based in Menton in the south of France, about 60 miles from the scene of yesterday's victory.