International Grand Prix, staged their first ever team event at the US Naval Base in St. David's on Sunday.

And it was Mike Lee and his partners who led way in what proved to be an intriguing tactical battle.

Association officials had divided all registered cyclists into three teams at the beginning of the season, specifically to race together in three races, Sunday's being the first.

With the teams identified by coloured ribbons, a total of 40 riders took part, each racing for one hour plus a lap on the 1.5 mile circuit.

According to BBA spokesman Greg Hopkins, the event got off to a fast and furious start but after a little more than four laps a breakaway group of eight separated themselves from the main field.

Each team, however, was represented in the break with sprinter Sinclair Packwood and Kevin Topple from the green team, Stephan Carpentier with Chris Walker from the orange team and Mike Lee, Greg Hopkins, Damion Wilson and Paul Shrubb from the pink team.

With four riders from their team in the lead pack, Lee, Hopkins and Shrubb took turns to attack off the front, forcing riders in the other teams to give chase, while their sprinter Wilson saved himself for what looked like being a final dash for the line.

The green team's job was made all the more difficult when Topple suffered a flat tyre, leaving Packwood to chase down any breakaways on his own, with Carpentier doing the work for the orange team.

Such tactics took their toll and finally Lee was able to make the decisive break with three laps to go. As Lee pulled away from the lead pack, Hopkins, Wilson and Shrubb had the luxury of sitting back while Packwood and Carpentier tried in vain to close the gap.

Lee held on to his lead to the finish while in the race for secondary positions, Hopkins led his team-mate Wilson who overhauled a tiring Packwood and Carpentier in the sprint with Walker and Shrubb in close contention. All riders were given the same finishing time.

In the secondary race of 45 minutes and one lap the veterans, novices, women and junior III riders contested their race for the respective teams with something of a surprise result.

As the older riders played cat and mouse, top junior Duncan Simons on the orange team and Kris Hedges on the green team took advantage of the tactics and pulled away from their older and more experienced counterparts, crossing the finish line first with Simons getting the edge over arch rival Hedges.

Vic Ball was first veteran and Melanie Claude first female. In the junior III race, Matthew Herring on the green team continued his dominance of the division as he beat out Mark Morrison of the orange team.

With the results of the race being decided by the team with the lowest score after each rider's overall position was tabulated, it was the pink team which took honours with a score of 41. Green team was second with 67 points and orange team third on 77 points.

Teams -- Pink: Mike Lee, Damion Wilson, Greg Hopkins, Paul Shrubb, MacInnis Looby, Mel Bennett, Wayman Butterfield, Paul Madeiros, Vic Ball, Richard Mason, Martin Bolton, Robin Massey.

Orange: Stephan Carpentier, Chris Walker, Andy Ferguson, Donald Musson, Vance Stevens, Duncan Simons, Louis Muso, Jonathon Herring, Mark Morrison.

Green: Sinclair Packwood, Kevin Topple, Mervin Van Putten, John Hately, Carlos Sequeros, Karl Outerbridge, Dana Henry, Mark Edmunds, Earl Pringle, H.Duarte, Kris Hedges, George Sutherland, Melanie Claude, John Plested, Maggie Hateley, Chris Bennett, Monica Massey, Matthew Herring.