A gruelling seven months of competitive cycling has left cyclist MacInnis Looby tired and pessimistic about his chances of claiming glory at the prestigious Killington Stage Race which begins today in Vermont.

Looby, due to depart for the New England state this morning, appeared anxious to put the five-stage, 330-mile event behind him and take time to relax in preparation for next year.

"I'm just looking to limit my losses. I hope to do well, but I'm really not up to par at present and want just to finish,'' said the outspoken cyclist, who will line up alongside fellow Bermudian Elliot Hubbard.

"I came home to rest in preparation for it, but it hasn't happened. I've been racing all year without a break and my performance has been affected...I've been racing tired.'' With the World Championships set for October, most of the leading cyclists in the US -- amateur and professional -- are expected to be at Killington, noted for its tortuous hills.

Today's first stage consists of a three-mile prologue up a steep hill with the second a circuit race. A criterion sandwiched between two lengthy road races completes the event.

"Everybody, all the big guns, will be there and next year, with better coaching and a training programme, I'll hopefully be in better condition for these kind of events,'' said Looby, set to join California-based Team Extreme in January.

Looby, meantime, took time to respond to the comparisons drawn between himself and Hubbard.

It rankles him that the spotlight has been mostly on Hubbard, who has won two events and placed second four times since joining the Pennsylvania-based Tri-State Velo.

"It's not a fair comparison at all, Elliot's been cycling since he was 16 and has been in France for four years,'' he said. "If I was to listen to what people say about how Elliot's done this and I haven't I would have quit a long time ago.

"But we're both out there seeking the same goals, he's just a lot more advanced at this stage.''