WHILE Neil de ste Croix might have taken the honours in the opening round of the Bermuda Bicycle Association's mountain biking season at Hog Bay Park, reigning champion Garth Thomson is the man to beat.

So says fellow mountain biker Grant Goudge who said Thomson is "incredibly fit" this year.

Thomson sat it out last Sunday although new rules mean he will pay the price ¿ there are no points for not turning up for a race this year.

Goudge said: "He is giving Neil something to build up. Garth won bronze in the Caribbean Time Trial Championships a few months ago so he is very strong lad at the minute."

Goudge said there was a good turn-out for the opening event at a newly configured Hog Bay track which has extended the distance between lung-busting climbs.

Neil de ste croix won the Male A category while Norbert Meyer took the honours in the Male B division.

Kim McMullen took first place in the Female A category while Sarah Jordan took female honours at Hog Bay.

Daniel Oatley took first place in the Male Under 12s while Mark Godfrey took the Male 13-16 and Gabriella Arnold took the Female Under 12s.

In the women's section Goudge expects big things of Kim McMullen this season.

"She is very strong, she used to race cross country in British Columbia, she has a good background.

"And not as many women turn out as we would like so she doesn't have too much competition.

"In the B Men's class I would say it would be between Norbert Meyer and Charles Dunstan."

In the kids section anything can happen, said Goudge in his season's predictions.

"Daniel Oatley is up there but Justin Ferreira is an incredibly talented boy who wasn't there this weekend. He would be in the mix as well."

And Goudge is encouraged more men have stepped up to the A class this season.

"Some of the guys who raced in the lesser categories last year have bit the bullet and stepped up to Male A which is good ¿ Jeff Amaral, Peter Dunne and Paul Jacks."

The season might have started but novice riders can still join in the fun. Entry forms are available at Bermuda Bicycle Works or Winner's Edge or riders can simply turn up at the races.

'It's good harmless fun on a Sunday morning. You don't often get hurt riding mountain bikes because it is all in the dirt.

"It is an excellent work-out, a good bunch of people to do it with ¿ a quite laid-back atmosphere, just very enjoyable."

Despite a gruesome injury to de ste Croix some years back Goudge said while most people broke a collar bone when falling from a bike in road races, such accidents were rare in mountain biking.

"It is normally a very low speed when you tumble. Neil came out of some trees, took the corner sharply and rode into a stick which impaled him in the thigh which was unfortunate."

And Goudge said it was a cheap sport to get into.

"You can pick up a good quality entry-level mountain bike for about $400 and the kids bikes are much cheaper. You don't really need anything else apart from a helmet."

Races are $10 on the day or $30 for a season while kids pay just $5 on the day or $12 for the season.

Modifications have been made to the Fort Scaur course prior to the next race on Sunday morning while other venues include Admiralty Park and Ferry Reach.

Goudge said: "Even if people don't want to ride, just coming out to watch is a nice way to spend an hour or so on a Sunday morning."