Veteran Wayne Scott outkicked the field to take victory as Bemuda Bicycle Association opened their 2010 road racing season at Southside on Sunday with the first event in the IBC Criterium Series.

The Winners Edge rider proved too strong in a sprint finish to win the Male 'A' category.

In a race dictated by strong teams from Winners Edge and Team Madison, virtually the entire starting field was back together for a bunch sprint to the line.

But Scott showed that he still has what it takes to claim victory, beating Arthur Pitcher (Altree Bicycle Works) and Phil Trussell (Team Madison) to top the podium.

In their debut in the top category, juniors Dominique Mayho ( fouth, Team Madison), Tre'shun Correia (ninth Winners Edge) and Alex Godfrey (11th Altree Bicycle Works) impressed the senior riders, suggesting that they have used the winter mountain biking season to further develop their skills and fitness.

On the final lap, Mayho attempted to escape for the victory but his exuberance may have got the better of him as his charge into a strong headwind was too early.

In the Male 'B' race, Dennis Joell (CrimeStoppers) outpaced Randy Burgess and Arthur Glasford (Winners Edge) for his first category victory. And again it was the strong performance of juniors that caught the eye.

Mark Godfrey (fourth Winners Edge) and Marquis Cann (fifth Altree Bicycle Works) demonstrated that they could be major factors in this category in the coming months.

Other category winners were Karen Bordage (Winners Edge, Female A), Sarah Bonnett (Team Madison, Female B), Justin Ferreira (Winners Edge, Junior A), Christian Oatley (Altree Bicycle Works, Junior B) and Nicholas Narraway (Team Tokio, Junior C).

Sunday's race was the first of a year-long series of six criterium races sponsored by IBC and which will culminate with the first national criterium championship race in October.

The race also marked the first time that results were compiled with the aid of chip timing services provided by Bermuda Timing Services.

BBA spokesman Peter Dunne said: "As road racing has grown in popularity in the last few years the ability to determine the finish order has become more challenging for group sprint finishes.

"Sunday's Male A race saw the top 17 riders separated by only seven seconds and the winner was less than half a second ahead of his closest rival. Finish line camera services are also being provided by BTS."

Next up on the BBA schedule is the Harrington Sound time trial on Sunday, March 21.

n Riders from the Altree Financial Bicycle Works Cycling Team will be taking part in a 100 mile ride of the Island on Sunday to raise cash for earthquake-stricken Haiti.

Cyclists as young as nine-years-old will join the team for the final few miles of the charity ride.

The event starts at Bicycle Works at 7 a.m. and will see cyclists ride twice around the coast of Bermuda.

The Bicycle Works Team was formed in 2008 and has riders of all ages in both male and female racing categories.

According to a team spokesman, the main goal of the team is the development of cycling in Bermuda as well as focusing on the development of the junior riders.