crushing reality of professional sports: He may not have a job when he goes back to Italy.

A financial crisis within the country's professional cycling circuit has already forced five teams to shut down and Hubbard confirmed that his could be next.

"Obviously (my team-mates and I) all have our fingers crossed,'' Hubbard said in a recent interview.

Like other teams, the future of Hubbard's, AKI, hinges on sponsorship. AKI hasn't pulled out yet but other sponsors are being sought as back-up, said Hubbard. The team has already reduced the number of their riders from 16 to 12 -- of which Hubbard was one -- but there are fears he and his team-mates may be forced to join about 60 other "extremely good'' riders now looking for work.

Hubbard said he has "sent out feelers'' to other areas, including the US, where he rode last year, but his preference is to remain in Italy, or, at least, Europe.

The anxiety, however, has brought home a modern sports truism. And Hubbard isn't afraid to admit that the prestige and experience of riding in Italy may have to come in second to money.

"It's forced me to let go of the dream in some respects,'' Hubbard admitted.

"What it comes down to is that being a professional athlete is just a job at the end of the day.'' But few other jobs are as demanding. Reflecting on his first season competing at perhaps the highest level of his sport, the 24-year-old Bermudian, who only took up riding competitively at age 15, admitted he wasn't quite prepared for the physical and emotional demands.

"You never know how hard it is until it slaps you in the face,'' he said.

"You have to experience it to realise (the difficulty).

"It's not even a 9-to-5 job. Everything you do 24 hours a day affects your performance, even in the off-season.'' In Hubbard's case, the challenge was made greater by culture shock, including learning a new language (he already speaks French). His role has changed from team leader to worker bee, and, combined with other setbacks such as a bout with measles, Hubbard has come to call the experience "humbling.'' Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, he maintains.

"Cycling is all about sacrifice,'' Hubbard said. "To be successful, you have to race overseas. You need to race at that level on a weekly basis. You need to lead the same lifestyle as the competition. It's serious business.

"In my opinion, there aren't enough Bermudian athletes willing to risk it, willing to try. Even if (an athlete) fails, at least he knows he's given it a shot, which is better than spending the rest of your life at a desk and not knowing whether you could have made it. You never know how far you can go until you try.'' Despite measles and the subsequent recovery period, Hubbard saw about 100 days of racing in what amounts to a nine-month season. He helped his team to a Stage win in the Tour of Italy and several top five finishes in other races.

Overall, AKI finished in the top 15 this season, he said.

And while it may not show in individual results, only Hubbard knows how much he's improved in the past year.

"You can't see from my results this season, but you can see the progression because I'm racing at a much higher level. If I had raced at this level last season in the States, I would have won every week.

"Somebody might say to me, `Last season, you were winning. You must be going backwards.' They don't realise that you're riding twice as strong but still not good enough to win races (in Italy).'' If his team remains together, Hubbard expects his responsibilities to increase, although he knows he's not yet a team leader. Yet.

But cyclists don't peak until they hit about 30-years-old, Hubbard said, "and at this point I feel I like I could go a long way.'' In Bermuda, however, he already has, and he hopes his experience will help guide the way for other youngsters. A national programme was set up in August but there are no guarantees that any riders will be ready -- or even qualify -- for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and 2000 Olympics.

Hubbard, of course, cycled solo in the Atlanta Games but wasn't allowed in last month's World Championships. And if threatened with missing a major road race in the future, it would leave him only one choice: Wear another country's colours.

Hubbard revealed that he is prepared to cycle for England, where he was born before coming to Bermuda with parents Ken and Rosalind as a toddler.

"Obviously, I'd rather represent Bermuda,'' he said. "Even if I had to race on my own, I'd rather do that than represent England.'' ELLIOT HUBBARD