French circuit with semi-professional outfit Jolly Club 88.

The 18-year-old won the hearts of up to 400 fans over the weekend when he placed 11th in the Roquebrune Cap Martin Criterium Classic.

Racing in the senior division, after dominating the junior ranks a year ago, Bermuda's most promising youngster had to battle adversity on Sunday in a gutsy performance in the 16-lap, three-and-a-quarter-mile circuit.

On the fourth lap, a group of seven made a breakaway and quickly established a 40-second lead on the field.

Hubbard made his move on the sixth lap as he broke from the chasing pack and then caught and spassed the front-runners.

The eventual winner responded and went with Hubbard to build a lead in excess of one minute until misfortune hounded the Bermudian.

"We were working together in the lead until lap 14 when I picked up a flat tyre,'' said Hubbard yesterday. "A support vehicle was nearby and I lost two minutes changing the wheel and was passed by the main group.

"But 200 yards down the road I found that my new wheel was defective and that cost me more time.'' Hubbard eventually recovered well to catch the main group and finished as high as 11th on the strength of a good sprint at the end. But the breakaway cyclist maintained a one-minute advantage until the end. Only 30 of the 85-strong field finished the race.

"It was a shame because everyone said that he looked a lot weaker than me when we were together,'' said Hubbard, who was nevertheless mobbed by the Press and fans after the race.

"The winner himself even came to me at the end to say that I would have won if not for the flat tyre.'' This latest result confirms Hubbard's status as a rising star in the south of France and he is looking to start the stage season well this weekend when the four-stage Tour of the Cote d'Azur is held.

The youngster's best finish has been third in the St. Agnes Hill Climb Championship, which he won as a junior last year.

He 21st in the Grand Prix of Plascascier, 23rd in the Memorial Vietto, 12th in a two-man team time trial and seventh and 37th respectively in the Spezia Trophy and Imperia Classic, two races that were staged in Italy.

"So far so good,'' said Hubbard in appraising his progress. "The step from junior to senior is big, so things have worked out well.'' ELLIOTT HUBBARD -- Enjoying his first season as a senior rider in France.