Hubbard returned home to Bermuda last week for his first visit in almost a year.

But leave it to the pranksters at the Bermuda Bicycle Association to provide a moment of high drama and emotion for what might otherwise have been a private, if not mundane, homecoming.

The occasion was the BBA's annual awards dinner at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club on Saturday night. And just as about 80 members of the BBA, including Hubbard's parents, were seated, who should burst through the door but the Island's top cyclist, fresh from his first season as a professional in Italy.

Hubbard's arrival was known to only a handful of people -- his parents, Rosalind and Ken, not among them.

"I just about died,'' said Rosalind Hubbard, still chuckling yesterday at the shock. "I totally embarassed myself, screaming and running over to him.'' "It was fantastic.'' Ken Hubbard's reaction was only a little more subdued: "I was absolutely stunned,'' he said.

Adding to the dramatics was Hubbard himself, who showed up lugging suitcases and clenching an airline ticket between his teeth. That was just part of the ruse. In fact, the 24-year-old arrived on Thursday and had been hiding out at the home of good friend and national cycling coach Greg Hopkins for two days.

Hopkins and Hubbard had actually planned the surprise a month ago to coincide with the awards, in which Hubbard was the unannounced guest of honour.

Even with the whispering between Hopkins and Tim Palmer, a delay in the awards presentation and the apparent tardiness of the special guest, the Hubbards said they "had no clue whatsover'' that their son was in Bermuda.

Ken Hubbard yesterday even recalled joking about the empty chair and place setting at their table "but I didn't twig in that it would be for Elliot.'' Ironically, the Hubbards had spent much of the evening shrugging off questions about Elliot's status, saying all they knew was that he was still in Europe and would be arriving "in the next week or two.'' Little did they know some of the people asking were part of the surprise.

More emotion was to follow during the cyclist's speech, in which he asked his parents to stand while he thanked them for their untiring support. "I was in tears, as were a few of the other mothers present,'' said Rosalind Hubbard.

The Hubbards had not seen their son since last November, when he departed for Italy to join his Team AKI as the Island's first professional. He will be home for about two months and Rosalind Hubbard is already looking forward to a full family Christmas.

Last year, she said, was her first without both Elliot and her daughter, Dr.

Katherine Michelmore, who is continuing studies at Oxford University but will arrive in Bermuda next month.

Michelmore was also, as Elliot Hubbard said, "a very important part of the intricate plan.'' Her role was to provide an alibi and throw their parents off the scent.

Hubbard said only about "four or five'' people knew of the plan but there was a still constant worry.

"I was hoping word wouldn't get out,'' he said. "The biggest fear was someone recognising me so I just kept as low a profile as possible. I didn't venture out (of Hopkins' house) much because I didn't want to blow the surprise.'' Surprises, meanwhile, are no stranger to the BBA, as secretary Linda Dillon will tell you. It was at last year's awards that she was the stunned recipient of a new bicycle as a token of gratitude from members.

ELLIOT HUBBARD