Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, top cyclist Elliot Hubbard was off again yesterday to another major championship. ..in the South American country of Peru.

Hubbard only arrived in the United States on the weekend to rejoin his Navigators team after impressive performances in the Games road race and time trial.

He flew out yesterday with three team-mates for the Grand Classica De Ragattas, a big event in Peru which is expected to involve somewhere in the region of 200 riders.

The event is an 11-day stage race starting on Thursday, after which Hubbard is planning a short break with his team-mates on a mountaineering and hiking expedition of the country.

"This is our last big race of the season,'' he said, just minutes before heading to the airport for the flight.

Hubbard, who was intransit for close to 24 hours from Kuala Lumpur, added: "It was almost a full day of travelling. I actually caught a bit of a head cold on the plane, but I'm getting over that now and by the time we get there I should be in decent shape. "I think we should do well, my team-mates and I are riding strong. The form is there, we'll just have to pull it out on the day. We are all capable of riding well.'' The event will be made up of road racing and time trials. Hubbard expects to return to Bermuda towards the end of October.

ELLIOT HUBBARD -- Peru-bound