The Bermuda Bicycle Association yesterday announced the formation of a National Team Programme to prepare their top cyclists for international competition.

Heading the programme will be three veterans of the sport: Jeff Payne, who will be programme director, manager Vance Stevens and coach Greg Hopkins.

Jason Krupp will act as liason between the team and the BBA executive.

The immediate objective is to prepare riders for next season and, ultimately, the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, Hopkins said. Initial selection of riders will be made over the next few weeks when between 12 and 15 riders will be invited to join the programme. "(It) will be based on this year's Category 2 riders and their performances but we are well aware of the potential of our upcoming juniors, the improving lower category riders and, of course, our women,'' Hopkins said in a statement.

"The situation of selection is an ongoing process and all riders performances will be monitored. Once selected a rider is not guaranteed a place on the squad. That will be determined by their performance, dedication and application to the team concept.'' While a team of Bermuda riders competed in an event last year in Cuba, "that was just a bunch of guys who got together,'' Hopkins said in an interview yesterday. "In the past there have always been some guys here, some guys there. This will be the first time we will have riders training together as a team.'' He compared the programme to that in place in other Island sports such as soccer, cricket and swimming.

Training for the squad will begin in November, when Hopkins says riders will begin to establish a "team spirit'' through the winter before the rigours of serious preparation start in January.

The first appearance for the team will likely be the Bermuda Grand Prix in May or an early-season race in the US.

Hopkins acknowledged attending the Commonwealth Games will be a "very tough task'' but it is "clearly in the minds of the organisers.'' Should a rider accept a place on the national team, he or she will be required to sign a Code of Conduct contract covering behviour, puncuality, random drug testing and training requirements.

However, riders will not have to sacrifice individual sponsorship deals, Hopkins said.