when French-Canadian Charles Dione pipped him by one second in the six-day Tour de Toona in El Toona, Pennsylvania.

With one stage remaining, Hubbard held a three-second lead over Dione of Radio Energy, a Canadian team. But Dione made up four seconds on the criterium, which included several sprints for time bonuses and nipped the Bermudian by one second to take first overall.

There was some consolation for Hubbard, however, as his second place helped the seven-member Navigators to first place in the team standings. Team-mate Scott Moninger, fifth overall, was voted the best climber among the 150 riders.

"It was disappointing to lose the jersey on the last day but it's just one of those things,'' said Hubbard yesterday. The other stages were a time trial, circuit race and three road races with a criterium on the last stage.

"The chances of the guy right behind you getting a time bonus are pretty slim but he managed to pull it off, so I give him credit for that. Our team rode a great race and we can't complain about the way we defended the jersey.

"We definitely controlled the race and we were the strongest team in the race and everybody else knew that.'' In his first season with the Navigators, Hubbard has developed into one of their top riders.

"I'm still improving, the season is far from over yet,'' said Hubbard, who has one more major outing, the US Pro Criterium championships in Chicago in two weeks' time, before representing Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia next month.

"I'm still trying to peak for the Commonwealth Games and then there is a stage race, a 10-day race, I'm doing after that in Peru, so there is still quite a bit of racing to go.

"My form is coming along and I hope to be in pretty decent shape for Commonwealth.'' After being on the road for about a month, Hubbard is welcoming a short break before heading off for Kuala Lumpur.

"If everything goes well I could be a contender in that race, that's the plan anyway.

"I definitely want to secure a good result there. If I can't win I'm going down swinging.'' ELLIOT HUBBARD -- pipped by just one second.