Top Bermuda cyclist Garth Thomson is leaving the Island next month, but he has one thing he needs to do before he leaves – win the May 24 race.

Despite breaking a host of records, and claiming two Time Trial medals in the Caribbean Championships, Thomson has never won the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race.

This year will be his last chance to do so and while going out with a win would be nice, the Canadian hasn't yet decided if he's going to enter.

"I haven't won it before," said Thomson, "but right now my wife Dee and I, are training for Ironman Canada at the end of August, which is a 10-hour event, with 180 kilometres of biking. May 24 . . . obviously any race I have done in Bermuda I have gone to the start line thinking that I have a chance to win.

"If I choose to race May 24 this year I have the same expectation. It doesn't always shake out that way, it's a funny race, especially since over the years I have been the main target, and when you have 60 guys with the bullseye on your back, it's a hard race to get away in.

"In the years past I have been a difference maker in the race, and although it hasn't worked out for me, it's worked out for team-mates, so hopefully I can be a difference maker again this year."

While Garth Thomson's departure will open up a gap at the top of men's cycling in Bermuda, women's cycling will be equally badly hit by the departure of his wife Deanna.

"Deanna has collected far more medals and trophies internationally than me," said Garth. "In fact, she is presently holding all five triathlon and cycling national championships and is both the cyclist and triathlete of the year for 2009. You might wonder why you'd talk to me at all . . . ."

Leaving the Island comes with its own excitment for the pair, but is also tinged with sadness.

"We're excited (about the move), we're looking forward to some new opportunities for us back home in Canada," said Thomson, "but I guess it's a little bitter-sweet because we've had a great time here.

"Obviously the friendships that we have made in the cycling and triathlon community. We have a lot of friends that we hope will be friends for life. We've had a great experience that way. We've represented Bermuda nine different times on international events. Those memories have been great."

Friends and opponents alike will miss the husband and wife duo, and former national coach and Winners Edge owner Greg Hopkins said the contribution the pair had made to the sport on the Island couldn't be underestimated.

"Garth's had a tremendous effect on local cycling by his performances. Certainly as far as representing Bermuda in the competitions he has been eligible to compete at, like the Caribbean Championships where he did something that nobody else managed to do, which was medal for Bermuda.

"For him to medal in the time trial two years in a row was an amazing accomplishment and he definitely has taken it to another level in Bermuda. He is the benchmark. To be quite honest he is untouchable in Bermuda, by anybody. His contributions for Bermuda, and the affect he has had on that particular discipline has been tremendous.

"He'll be remembered when he leaves and it'll be a sad day when they both leave, not just Garth, because Dee has done a great deal for Bermuda too. The two of them the same, I don't forsee anybody matching the times Garth has set, so his name will sit in the record books for a considerable amount of time, he'll be remembered by people who don't even know him."