Even a typical, gutsy, never-say-die ride by Wayne Scott couldn't hold off a charging Graeme Miller in Sunday's 35-mile road race staged by Bermuda Bicycle Association at Southside, St.Davids.

Over 12 laps, the former New Zealand professional beat out what has to be regarded as one of the strongest local fields ever assembled, setting the stage for a highly anticipated Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race on Monday.

Scott is the defending Packwood Memorial champion and will know now how difficult it will be to retain that crown.

It was an impressive sight on Sunday as 83 riders lined up on the start line, putting an exclamation mark on what is proving to be a stellar season for cycling.

As the start flag was dropped it was clear that riders in the 'A' category race were not about to ease into the action as a group of five riders – Scott, Rodney Davis, Chris Faria, Neil De Ste Croix, and a rejuvenated Elliot Hubbard – quickly broke away from the field and established a gap that throughout the race would grow to over two minutes.

With strong team tactics playing a role this year, it was Miller and team-mate Scott Williams who found themselves unrepresented in the break and under pressure to reel in the escapees. And with a number of riders dropping off the pace it was a select group left to make the bridge.

Finally, Williams lit the fuse and began a strong chase down that would see a reaction from Garth Thompson as Miller, closely monitored by Mark Hatherely, watched the action unfold.

Sensing the chase group closing, Scott made a break from the lead group but with two laps to go he was also caught and it seemed destined to come down to a group sprint. Miller, however, had other ideas and powered off the front on the last lap, opening up a 30-second lead that would take him to the finish line uncontested.

That was not the case for the chase group which saw Scott still finding enough to take second place with Thompson third.

Racing in the same field, Karen Bordage took honours in the women's event with Dee Thompson placing second.

It was no less competitive in the 'B' category race over eight laps with Dave Collins securing his third win of the season, edging out Norbert Meyer and Ed Jordan after an event that saw numerous breakaway attempts pulled back by the large field.

In what turned into a tactical battle it was Collins who had the most gas left for the finishing straight into a headwind with Meyer unable to come around him.

In the same race, women's 'B' rider Nicole Mitchell won her first race beating out Maryellen Goodwin with Sarah Jordan rounding out the top three. A crash part way through the race took out Darren Dowling and Sarah Bonnett.

The junior categories saw 31 riders in four groups competing for honours.

In the Junior 'A', Dominique Mayho, Ryan Gunn and Mark Godfrey took the top three places. Molly Pilgrim won the Junior 'B' race ahead of Annabelle Doyle and Gabriella Arnold, and it was Christian Oatley, Somer Froud and Erica Hawley placing first, second and third in the Junior 'C'.