Dominique Mayho is on the verge of becoming only the second rider to win three consecutive Sinclair Packwood Memorial Races.

The only rider to achieve the feat was Kris Hedges between 2000 and 2002.

Mayho, 20, is now keen to join that exclusive club.

“Kris is the only person to win it three times and I am trying to match him,” Mayho said.

“I am up for the challenge and it would be good to get it [Hedges’ record].”

Mayho is satisfied with his preparations for his title defence in one of the biggest races on the annual cycling calendar.

“The training has gone pretty well,” he said. “Now we will have to see how it all goes.”

Although he is optimistic of retaining his title, Mayho is wary that his work has been cut out for him a field boasting Bermuda team-mates Shannon Lawrence and Darren Glasford, the 2011 Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race winner. Others such as Arthur Pitcher Jr, the former Cup Match and Bermuda cricketer, and Mark Hatherly are also capable of victory on the day.

“These guys are strong this year,” Mayho said. “Guys like Arthur Pitcher, Mark Hatherly and Shannon Lawrence can win it, so I have to stay focused. I am going to try my best to win, and I think I can. But you never know what is going to happen on any given day.”

Mayho won last year’s race comfortably, finishing eleven seconds ahead of nearest rival Pitcher.

But Greg Hopkins, the 1999 race winner and Winners Edge team owner, believes that the margin of victory will be much closer this year.

“I think it is going to be an extremely competitive race this year,” he said. “I do not think the other riders will make the mistake they made last year and there are a lot of guys in great shape and motivated for the win.

“If it comes down to a sprint close to the finish you definitely have to be looking at somebody like Arthur Pitcher as a dark horse for the win. It is going to be an exciting race.”

Back to defend her title in the women’s division is Karen Smith who believes this year’s race is a toss up.

“In this particular race it is not always this strongest cyclist who wins and I do not think I am the strongest cyclist there,” she said.

“I think a lot of people have a very good chance of winning this race.

“There are probably six or seven people who can win this race very easily if they have the right opportunities, make a move at the right time and work with their team-mates.”