organisers to make it worth his while.

The cyclist, who first won in 1995, came in nine seconds ahead of the pack after breaking away almost two miles from home, taking advantage of a bunch up when Nuri Latham caught a pedal as he cornered.

He had Cedar Avenue almost to himself, slowing to punch the air about 50 yards from the line as he completed the 13 miles in 26 minutes, 53 seconds.

Dayna Henry led in the pack, with Mike Lee a second behind, ahead of Neil De St Croix, Whayman Butterfield, Kevin Topple, Greg Hopkins, and Steve Sterritt all within four seconds of Henry.

Looby was delighted with his victory but said afterwards: "If this is our most prestigious race, let the guys feel like it. Put up some real money, put up some real prizes -- give the guys some incentive.

"I'm in debt right now just trying to race. I need good equipment -- not a lot of equipment -- so that I can race and be competitive.

"I want to prepare for the Olympics. Right now it's just a hope. I started this eight years ago and after eight years of preparing I should have been definitely going to the Olympics. At the moment it's still just a maybe.'' Competitors were determined to make sure there was no repeat of last year's event when the pack allowed veteran Jeff Payne and Aaron Schindler to break away and never managed to make up the ground.

"I just knew everybody was excited and was going to be aggressive because they didn't want what happened last year to happen again,'' said Looby.

"Everybody, Greg (Hopkins), Tyler (Butterfield), Nuri was aggressive, they were riding really hard and that gave me a chance. I didn't have to do it all by myself which is what I thought I would have to do.'' The lead changed hands several times as first Looby and Dayna Henry went out but got pulled back. Then Butterfield and Sterritt took over, before Payne chased them down.

Hopkins, the national coach, took his turn down Harbour Road, opening up a 200-yard advantage at one stage. And that was when things got really interesting.

Hopkins caught a pedal as he took a 90 degree turn and almost went over, unaware that junior Latham's fall behind him had already caused a crash, giving Looby his opportunity.

Looby needed no second invitation, coming through and then taking off at Crow Lane Bakery, leaving the others searching in vain for some extra gas in their tanks.

"It was a classic move -- when the group gets caught, you attack,'' Looby admitted. "It's an opportunity for you to go. Dayna (Henry) knows it, Damion (Wilson) knows it.

"Dayna told me that he was boxed in -- that's the only reason he couldn't get out and go. It's just a matter of paying attention.'' Hopkins said: "It was a very honest race. Looby took off from the start, so the pace was quick from the beginning. And from then on in, whenever the pace looked like settling somebody would go off in front.

"MacInnis took off at a place a lot of guys think is ideal to go. He rode hard from the start, rode a very good tactical race and fully deserved his win.'' Looby now turns his attention to the Mini Worlds in Cuba at the end of the week, in confident mood for his bid for gold in the Kilo.

"For sure, the win gives me a lot of confidence for Cuba,'' he agreed . "I feel that my intensity is up and that's what the Kilo is about, like that last short bit of today's race where I ran away -- having that intensity for that amount of time.'' RONUE CANN -- first master to finish.

MARIA CONROY HAYDON -- second female finisher.

All race photos by Tony Cordeiro and David Skinner OUT IN FRONT -- Women's Marathon Derby champion Jane Christie leads a pack of runners over Somerset Bridge during the early stages of yesterday's race.

JAY DONAWA -- brave effort but had to settle for third.