championships in Malaysia, prompting team manager Jeff Payne to predict that a medal is not too far away for the Island's amateur riders.

"We feel very positive that we've found a level at which the upper level of ordinary riders -- I'm obviously not talking about Elliot Hubbard here -- can compete honourably,'' said Payne, on his arrival home after a two-day journey back from Ipoh, 100 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. "Eventually we will get people who can medal in this category.

"We're only a small Island and most of those we were racing against were effectively professional: the Malaysian team, for example, are state subsidised and go to Australia for four months of training in the New Year.

And the independent states in the former Soviet Union are all hungry to turn pro.'' Sterritt, indeed, was unfortunate not to achieve a better placing in the 150K event, getting caught after trying to break away from a chasing pack in a move that could have pushed him as high as sixth.

"Everyone in a group gets more or less the same time,'' said Payne. "About a mile and a half out, he took a flier to see if he could get away. But he got caught. The pack worked together and steam-rollered him into the ground. That was his final shot on going for a higher place.'' The race was a little less satisfying for team-mate Mike Lee, who had suffered from a food poisoning bug earlier in the week which left his face and throat swollen and obscured his vision in one eye. He had recovered sufficiently to take part but after a promising start, he developed body cramps and slipped back to finish 43rd out of 69 starters.

But Payne was pleased enough: "He stayed in there and kept working. But it was very hot. The race didn't start until 11.30 in the morning and it was really tough for the riders. I was manning one of the stations and they were taking in a bottle of water a lap -- that's about one and half pints every seven miles.'' Part of the purpose of the trip was to gather information for local athletes taking part in next year's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. Payne returned aware more than ever of the need to acclimatise.

"We had five days,'' he said. "But a week would be better. They're 12 hours ahead and it takes a while to change your body clock.'' But he did not rule out going back to compete himself. He achieved a personal best in the time trial, which left him just short of the standard set by Commonwealth Games organisers.

"I can work away at that, though,'' he added. "My feeling is that if you make the standard you've a right to be there.''