Elliot Hubbard added another page to his already impressive cycling resume with a world class performance in yesterday's 165 kilometre Pan-Am road race.

At the end of a torrid race in which speeds exceeded 40 mph and, among the few finishers at least, averaged around 26 mph, Hubbard placed 15th from a starting field of 64.

That result, however, reveals little about the 21-year-old Bermudian's gutsy ride.

His finish was higher than any rider from the Caribbean, including Cuba. In fact, Cuba was the only Caribbean country listed among just 29 finishers as the entire Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Belize, Cayman Islands and St. Lucia teams either wilted under a relentless pace or were pulled from the course by officials for falling too far behind.

The tedious, flat course -- 11 laps of a 15 kilometre circuit on the outskirts of Mar del Plata -- also took its toll on riders from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay.

At the end it came down to just two small packs battling for position over the final loop.

And while Hubbard, renowned for his climbing ability, had not expected to challenge on a course such as this -- almost certainly chosen to aid the Argentinian riders -- he still found enough speed to cross the finish line at the front of the chasing group.

The gold medal went to Canada's Brian Walton who broke away on the final lap to win in three hours, 49 minutes, 33 seconds, followed by Americans Mariano Friedick (plus 47 seconds) and Fred Rodriguez (plus 1:29).

Hubbard placed in a pack timed four minutes, 45 seconds behind the winner.

Without the help of team-mates -- he and non-finisher Lucian Dirksz of Aruba were the only solo cyclists entered -- Hubbard was content for much of the race to tuck into the centre of the pack. But as more and more riders fell off the back, and the Americans, Colombians and Argentinians began to force the pace with frequent bursts, he was forced to work hard to stay in touch.

The decisive break, leaving two main packs, came just two laps from the end and finally dashed Hubbard's outside hopes of getting among the medals.

"I'm satisfied, but I'm disappointed at the same time that I missed the breakaway,'' said Hubbard afterwards. "I think physically I had what it took to finish in the lead group. I'm tired but not exhausted.

"Tactically, on a flat course like that, it was very difficult by myself.

Plus with all the wind I was in the wrong place at the wrong time when they broke.

"A few hills and it might have been different. But you can't pick your courses.'' PEDAL POWER -- Cyclists in Mar del Plata get ready for the start of yesterday's race. Bermuda's Elliot Hubbard finished a respectable 15th in the 165 kilometre race.