Youth had its day in the Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix as Matthew Oliveira and Alyssa Rowse took the overall men’s and women’s titles.

Oliveira reaffirmed his reputation as one of the island’s most promising cyclists after sealing his maiden title with a win in yesterday’s Hamilton criterium, the final stage of the grand prix.

The 16-year-old lapped the entire field, finishing in a time of 1hr 03min 43sec ahead of Anthony Bartley and Chequan Richardson, who finished second and third.

Oliveira, who placed fourth in Friday’s St George’s time-trial/hill climb and second in Saturday’s Southside road race, finished with a total time of 2:46:13. David McComas was the overall runner-up in 2:47:36 while Darren Glasford, who won the stage one time-trial, was third in 2:48:05.

Oliveira, a Warwick Academy pupil, was keen to praise his Winners Edge team-mates for helping him take the title.

“On the 20-minute mark there was a preme lap for bonus points and I took that, got it, and looked back and saw there was a gap,” said Oliveira, who is coached by Peter Dunne, the Bermuda Bicycle Association president, and Dominique Mayho, who is racing overseas in Belgium.

“I kept drilling it and thought I’d try and lap the field as that would make it an easy race and I could just sit behind and not have to worry.

“I have to thank my team-mates as tactics are so important and those guys really helped me out.”

Alyssa Rowse, of Bicycle Works, claimed the women’s title after completing a clean sweep of wins in all three stages.

Rowse, finished with an overall time of 1:30:51 ahead of second-placed Ashley Estwanik in 1:32:03 and Martina Olcheski-Bell who was third in 1:34:56.

The same three riders had podium finishes in yesterday’s criterium, with Rowse cruising to victory in 28:05, with Estwanik coming second and Olcheski-Bell in third.

“I knew I had some extra time from the road race so I just didn’t want to get dropped,” said Rowse, who attends Warwick Academy and usually competes in the male B category.

“Crits are a lot more technical and the turning is very hard, with this course having four of them, one of them quite tight and hard. I’m a pretty technical rider so that wasn’t too difficult for him.

“I had a good spot and I just sat on some of the other competitors’ wheels for the first half.

“I then went for the time bonus, which was half way through, and opened up a bit of gap and just kept going.”

Robin Horsfield was the top finisher in the male B division with an overall time of 2:05:52, while Kion Richardson won the junior 13 to 16 category in 1:36:56.

Dunne believes the victories of teenagers Oliveira and Rowse serve as an indicator that cycling on the island is in good health.

“I think the sport is in a good place and it shows that cycling is being treated and perceived as a real sport on the island,” he said.

“A lot of these riders are looking at goals beyond high school that involve cycling and I think we’re on the right track.

“It’s great to have two 16-year-olds win and it’s easier for them to inspire more kids to come into the sport than it is if a 40-year-old guy wins.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with a 40-year-old guy winning.”