Greg Hopkins has played down his chances of defending his title in next week's May 24 Sinclair Packwood Memorial race.

But his opponents will bank on the 46-year-old fitness fanatic being in the thick of things again when the Somerset-to-Hamilton contest concludes on Cedar Avenue.

"Obviously, I'd dearly love to win, but this year I have a different race plan from last year which may not involve going for the win, but I do expect to be a factor in the race,'' said Hopkins.

Last year, Hopkins crossed the line four seconds ahead of a pack including Steve Millington, Tyler Butterfield, Dayna Henry, Darron Simons, Jason Krupp, Jonathan Herring, Kevin Topple and Steve Sterritt.

And he tipped many of those riders to be among the serious challengers this year.

"Millington has won a couple of races this year and has been riding extremely strongly,'' said Hopkins. "Sterritt is also riding well and the race has a bit of added flavour with the Bermudians who are coming back from overseas to take part, like Nuri Latham, Kent Richardson and Kris Hedges. We don't know how they are riding now because they have not been involved in the local events.

"I would never put money on a particular rider, but if it comes down to a sprint on Cedar Avenue, I have a sneaky feeling that Earl Godfrey could win it. He's a great sprinter and he's in tremendous shape this year.'' Hopkins said the race included a number of unique ingredients, which made it the most popular event of the year with Island cyclists.

"It's the event everybody wants to win,'' said Hopkins. "Everybody knows they're in with a chance of winning, because the race is so short and there are a number of variations along the way, which mean the favourites often don't win.

"And of course, being Heritage Day makes it a special occasion, with the whole of Bermuda out there watching.

"There are always a number of riders who look for a free ride to Cedar Avenue and then hope to win it in a sprint. I would prefer to see a winner who makes his move earlier.'' That is how Hopkins achieved victory last year, breaking away from the pack along Harbour Road and holding them off all the way to the Leopards Club.

The triumph was an emotional one for Hopkins, who at the finishing line tearfully hugged Marie Packwood, widow of the late top rider Sinclair Packwood, who had died just six months earlier.

Last year's race was the first one named in honour of Packwood, which added poignancy to the occasion.

"At the time I was president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association and I had a lot to do with the race being named in honour of Sinclair, so it was extra special to win,'' said Hopkins.

"Sinclair was such a great personality in our sport and if any one person was responsible for making this race a real event instead of just a fun race, it was Sinclair.

"He is still the only person to have won back-to-back May 24 races. The race being named in his honour means a lot to all the riders.'' Hopkins' victory was a reward for years of dedication to cycling, entailing a daily routine which would be intolerable to most.

"I get up at 4.30 every morning to train and I've been doing that for 18 years,'' said the former triathlon national champion.

"I don't even need to set the alarm, my body wakes me up. People ask me how I do it, but I love it. I think I have quite a strong constitution and that helps. I train a lot with youngsters like Tyler Butterfield and Jonathan Herring and those guys are my inspiration.''