event as the cyclists took over the Hamilton waterfront.

Krupp took the category two criterium title in the IBC Front Street Races, by streaking ahead of Mike Lee and Peter Eccles in the last 50 yards.

In the race of one hour, plus one 0.8-mile lap, the leading trio had broken clear of the pack around the 40-minute mark, establishing a 25-second lead.

The three stuck together almost to the finishing line, when Krupp's sprinting power proved the decisive factor.

For Krupp, it was almost a day of double triumph, after he was pipped to the King of Speed sprint title by Duncan Simons.

Krupp said he had no idea how far he, Eccles and Lee had broken clear of the rest of the field.

"In the last 15 minutes we decided to go off hard. I looked back a few times and did not see anybody,'' said Krupp.

Krupp's triumph gave him a first title in six years of the Front Street Races.

Dana Henry was first home of the chasing pack to claim fourth place.

Sprint king Simons was delighted with his victory in his first year as a category two rider.

The 19-year-old Bermuda College student said: "I always want to win, but in front of a crowd, there's an extra incentive.'' The top woman rider of the day was Laurie Orchard, who won the sprint and criterium trophies.

She said: "I just wanted to hang on with the men -- and beat as many of them as I could.'' The final race threw up intriguing duels in different categories.

The tightest finish of the day came in the veterans' class. Vic Ball won the title by a wheel from Jim Butterfield after the pair had ridden within inches of each other for almost the whole of the 45 minutes plus one lap.

Ball rode on Butterfield's back wheel and whatever Butterfield tried to do to shake him off, still Ball hung on.

In the end, Ball's sprint finish was the key, but he paid tribute to his adversary afterwards.

"Jim is a very strong rider and he rode a good, very tactical race,'' said Ball. "It was very intimidating, the way he could speed off at times.'' In the 15-16 boys category, Jim's son Tyler Butterfield and Jonathan Herring dominated, with Butterfield coming out comfortably in the end.

But for much of the race, it looked like Butterfield would never shake off the doggedly determined Herring. But Herring ultimately wilted as Butterfield won by an emphatic 45-second margin.

Butterfield, who also won the junior sprint title, said modestly: "I thought Jon had it in the beginning -- I think he is a lot fitter than me.'' Other winners were Amy Fox (9-10 girls), Ricky Sousa (9-10 boys), Flora Duffy (11-12 girls), Chayce Smith (11-12 boys), Ashley Robinson-Roberts (girls 13-14), Adam Petty (Boys 13-14), Yolanda Smith (17-18 girls), Nuri Latham (category three seniors) and Jay Simons (novices).