A champion's performance by Tom Barras over the weekend saw the Englishman claim the overall CD&P Grand Prix title ahead of Bermuda's Garth Thomson.

The 30-year-old rider, who finished the 2007 UK national road racing season ranked in 13th place, swept aside all competition as he won the first two stages of the annual Grand Prixe and placed second in Sunday evening's time trial to take top honours.

With points awarded after each of the three stages, Barras finished with four points – the second-placed rider some six points behind.

Bermuda's Thomson won the time trial stage to place second overall, with Barras' team-mate Marc Perry finishing third.

In the women's division, Deanna Thomson won all three stages to scoop the title – although she was the lone female in her category.

Peter Dunne of the Bermuda Bicycle Association praised Barras and Thomson for their performances throughout the two-day event.

"I haven't looked at the time splits of everyone but he (Barras) got two firsts and a second so it was awfully difficult to catch him unless he would have done extremely poor in the last stage," said Dunne.

"Garth had an excellent third stage as well. He was a long way ahead in terms of time and it helped him jump to where he finished, so he had a good weekend also.

"We choose what format to do the points by but if it would have been time and not points, Garth could very well have won the overall considering he won the last stage by some 36 seconds.

"The good thing about having riders like Barras and Perry here is that they give Garth something to look at and raise his game, so it was an exciting weekend for the men.

"As we had hoped the local turn-out was really good, and that was our intent, to bring more locals out to ride in the race. We revised the categories a little as to get competition a little more deep, so that is why you saw more people in less categories.

"In the Girls' 13-26 age group we saw a sprint to finish between five young ladies, which was excellent, so it worked out well.

"The race was a bit different than in past years as we didn't focus on bringing in elite international riders. We were pleased to see a few guys from oversees come on their own and race.

"We will continue to use this format with the two days instead of the four days previously as everyone was happy about it and it seemed to work."

Darren Glasford won the Men's B division, holding off Mark Lombardi by a solitary point with Glasford coming away with victories in the first two stages and a third in the final stage to leave him on five points.

Lombardi finished with a third and a second in the first two races while claiming the time trial stage, leaving him on six points.

In the junior divisions, Sophie Adams took the Girl's 13-16 overall prize, Gabriella Arnold the Girl's 12 and under, while Alex Godfrey topped the Boys' 13-16 category and Justin Ferreira took the Boys' 12 and under age group.

Full results, see Page 24.