Former professional rider Graeme Miller put all his years of experience and racing savvy to good use on Sunday morning in the inaugural Victoria Park Criterium race in Hamilton.

Blasting off the front of the field of top riders to secure his first win on Bermuda soil, in what was an action packed, high speed 45 minute race around a tight technical course that saw the riders completing laps in under a minute, Miller crossed the finish line with both arms raised, just as he did over 200 times in the professional peleton in the US at the height of his illustrious career.

It was not an easy win for the 46 year old however as many of the islands top riders pushed the pace relentlessly throughout the 45 minute race with continual breakaway attempts being reeled in with Miller never far from the front.

Mark Hatherely, Jonathan Herring and Miller at one stage had what looked like the winning move until Wayne Scott bridged across to them.

A flat tire forced Herring to take a lap out and the impetuous seemed to be lost with the rest of the field closing in on them. However when they came into the final turn it was Miller who was the class of the field, powering to the line with Herring second and Darren Glasford moving through for third.

Whilst the result pales in comparison to his Olympic, Commonwealth and the multi National titles he garnered in his home country of New Zealand, a win is a win, and after many years away from the professional circuit, simply to be racing again is clearly satisfaction enough for a man who earned a reputation as a fierce and fearless sprinter.

Spokesperson Greg Hopkins who witnessed Miller in his prime notes, "Graeme was a highly respected rider who was renowned for his aggressive style especially in a sprint and you can see once he is in a race even now he still has that natural competitiveness and desire to win." Adding, "Since Graeme arrived in Bermuda, there has been a buzz amongst the local cyclist and I believe that he has caused riders here to step up their game.

"In my view he is the best thing that has happened to local cycling, we can all learn so much from him"

However the real buzz on Sunday was not just Millers win but the size of the field and quality of riding across the board with a record 80 riders lining up to compete in 6 categories in three races.

With the Junior 'C' and 'B' categories getting the action underway on a slightly shorter course, Christian Oatley took the honors as did his brother in the 'C' and 'B' categories respectively.

In the biggest race of the day, 41 riders took to the start line including the Male and Female 'B' categories along with the islands top juniors in the Junior 'A'.

In a 30 minute action packed race that got of to a fast and furious start lapping the course in just over a minute a small group of five or six riders quickly separated themselves off the front and battled for positions throughout the race until the final sprint finish on Dundonald Street where Phil Trousell clearly had the most left as he crossed the line ahead of Norbett Meyer with former May 24th winner Darren Dowling making a welcome return to cycling placing third.

Ryan Gunn was the winner in the Junior 'A' and Sarah Bonnett won the sprint to take honors in the Female 'B' event.