popularity of the sport in Bermuda, then it is clearly continuing its growth of recent years.

Almost 100 eight-and-under (pee wee) riders took part in the warm-up races before some 88 of Bermuda's more serious cyclists vied for honours in the IBC Sprint Championships and criterium events.

Duncan Simons retained his `King of Speed' title which he won in 1999 as he out-paced former Olympian Earl Godfrey in the one-on-one final. Both riders had won their way through a series of heats in the morning.

Not wanting to get caught up in a tactical battle with the experienced Godfrey, Simons adopted a head-down, all-out effort from the gun and his youth and fitness was enough to carry him to victory.

In the women's final, Melanie Claude faced Godfrey's wife, Jeanna, who is making a comeback this year. However, Godfrey found the in-form Claude too hot to handle.

Justin Simmons found the same in his opponent when he was beaten by Jean Nicolas Bertrand in the final of the junior event.

In the main events of the day, the Island's top category two and three riders raced for one hour plus a lap around the city circuit of Front Street, Reid Street and Queen Street.

In tricky, windy conditions the field quickly split into a six-man group including Steve Sterritt, Steve Millington, Jonathan Herring, Greg Hopkins and Jason Krupp all of whom had figured strongly in the previous week's season-opening road race. They were joined by Mike Lee as they opened a gap on the rest of the field.

Triathlete Julia Hawley, who is concentrating solely on cycling this year, showed her strength as she briefly joined the group. But after a series of attacks, she found herself isolated between the leaders and the chase pack.

Sterritt and Millington, both members of the successful World B Championship team last year, stamped their authority on the race after about 20 minutes when they broke clear from the other four riders.

Lap after lap, the gap remained at about 15 seconds as the two riders worked together, with a tactical battle going on between team-mates Hopkins and Krupp trying to control Herring and Lee.

However, the leaders and the chase group lapped the entire field before Millington put in a final attack on the last hill, forcing Sterritt to chase to the final stretch on Front Street where Millington sprinted to victory.

Hopkins also attacked on the hill in the chase group, managing to drop Lee and lead out the sprint on Front Street. Krupp, Herring and Hopkins took third, fourth and fifth respectively.

With Herring a category three rider, he secured victory in his division with a hard-chasing Hawley coming in second, one lap down, and Jay Simons third.

Justin Simmons placed first in the boys' 17-18 category.

The top youngsters then took the stage for their 15-minute race over the same course with Ricky Sousa clinching victory in the boys' 10 and under, Aaron Fenn in the boys' 11-12 and Flora Duffy in the girls' 13-14 category. Ally Bolton won the girls' 11-12 and Laura Ruse the girls' 9-10.

In the final event of the day, the biggest field of over 40 riders were on the start line for a 45-minute, plus one lap race with the veterans, novices, female open, 13-14 and 15-16 categories all being contested.

It was not long before the attacks started with a breakaway group forming with top veterans Vic Ball and Paulo Medeiros, female Jeanna Godfrey, novice Ted Temple and top juniors Matthew Herring, Brian Steinhoff, Nick Taylor and Jean Nicolas Bertrand all in attendance.

Ball finally broke the deadlock when he attacked on the hill on Reid Street and the lead pack splintered with Ball, Temple, Steinhoff and Bertrand forming a breakaway. Finally, newcomer Temple, after a strong ride last week, showed that he is a rider to watch as he stamped his authority on the race, attacking off the front and riding the last 15 minutes to a solo victory.

Impressive youngster Steinhoff came in second and the experienced Ball third, taking the boys' 15-16 and veteran categories respectively.

Godfrey was unchallenged throughout to take the women's title while Kim Mason was first veteran female. Matthew Herring had another impressive ride to win the boys' 13-14 and Ashley Robinson Roberts took honours in the 15-16 girls with Yolanda Smith first in the girls' 17-18.

Photo focus, see Page 22 Photographer Ras Mykkal spends a day at the races Jonathan Herring: Victory on Front Street in the category three race.

One to watch: Cycling newcomer Ted Temple leads the pack during the final event of Sunday's IBC Front Street race series. Temple was first novice and first overall in the 45 minute plus one lap race.

They're off! Perennial frontrunner Cal Steede (234) sets the early pace as the 100-plus field answer the gun in Sunday's Evian 10-mile road race. Victory went to Jay Donawa (hidden), second place to visitor Michael Scythes (238), and third to John Wassenaar (140).

Tough going: Lynn Patchett, second among the females, heads for the finish line in Sunday's 10-miler.

Ashley Robinson-Roberts: Winner of the girls 15-16 race in Sunday's Front Street series.

Winners: Steve Millington (left) and Jonathan Herring, respective champions of the category two and three events on Sunday.

John Wassenaar: Third place overall in 56.02.

Trovaughn Smith steps up the pace on his way to a sixth place finish among the 15-16 boys.