Kris Hedges may have given up cycling full time but he showed on Sunday that he remains a class act on two wheels.

Competing in the in the Spa Water/Bank of Bermuda Foundation National Time Trial Championships, Hedges powered his way to victory in the 24.17 mile event.

Racing against the clock has always been the former professional?s forte, and despite taking up full-time work and Regiment duties since returning to the Island last year, he remains one of Bermuda?s leading riders.

Hedges outgunned other favourites for the first national title of the year in a time of 55 minutes, 14.66 seconds ? a full three minutes ahead of second placed Riann Naude (58.14.30) with mountain bike ace Garth Thompson taking third in 59.23.14.

In winning so convincingly, Hedges indicated that he?s more than ready to represent Bermuda at the upcoming Small Island Games in the Shetland Islands where he may well find himself in a supporting role alongside Geri Mewett for Tyler Butterfield in what has to be the strongest team Bermuda has ever been able to assemble.

Other riders who are competing overseas over the next month also showed good form with Greg Hopkins taking the veterans title in a time of 60.37.42, good enough for fifth overall, as he prepares for the Coupe Des Ameriques Stage Race in Quebec on July 1.

Mark Yeulett and Neil DeSt.Croix, who will also represent Bermuda at the Island Games alongside Thompson in the mountain bike events, took second and third respectively in 60.49.67 and 62.20.43.

Also competing in Quebec will be Julia Hawley who recorded one of the most impressive performances of the day. Riding in the veterans? category, she posted a time of 60.56.59, earning her seventh place overall.

Coming off two solid races in Britain already this year, Hawley is clearly stamping her claim to represent Bermuda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Second place in that category was Sue Edney in 71.26.81.

In the Open women?s division, Deanna Thompson took honours with a strong ride of 65.14.19 ahead of Ashley Robinson (69.46.35) and Joanna Shillington (71.11.90).

Ricky Sousa jr continued to show great form, getting the attention of senior riders as he won the 15-16 category in 62.40.13, almost ten minutes ahead of Thomas Godfrey (72.30.70) and Tim Fox (75.18.97).

Other category winners were: Mark Smith, 13-14 boys in 41.9.01 over a 13.73 mile course; David Lunn jr in 32.40.84 over 10.25 miles for the 11-12 boys; Martina Edney in the girls? 11-12 in 37.53.76 over the same distance; Mark Godfrey in the boys? 10 and under 3.29 mile event in 11.31.56 and Katie Ewles in the girls 10 and under in 12.27.69.