stronger showing for this weekend's Tour de Vars in Vars, France.

Hubbard credited his finest performance to date as a Category One Amateur/Semi-Professional cyclist with being "at the right place at the right time,'' and a key tactical decision to break away from the rest of the pack early after only the second lap in the 10-lap, 70-kilometre Ospedateli Criterium in Bordigeira, Italy.

The Bermudian cyclist has blossomed into a major force on the circuit and for the Monaco team along with professional racer Martin Aoun.

"These races tend to be very complex, very tactical,'' said Hubbard from Monaco yesterday, still beaming from his triumph. "I've tried breaking away early in previous races, but it never worked as well for me before.'' Hubbard, whose Monaco team finished in first place, believes his particular strength of riding over difficult and mountainous terrain placed him in perfect position to overtake racers on the Italian Bordigeira and Ventimillia teams who finished in second and third place respectively.

Gruelling training rides of 600 kilometres each week manage to keep Hubbard tightly focussed on cycling while this weekend's Tour de Vars, consisting of two 125-kilometre races, will amount to his stiffest test to date.

"I hope to sling-shot off my victory, but you can never really predict how you're going to do,'' said Hubbard.

Hubbard along with Monaco team-mates Aoun and David Podvin expect fierce competition from three other teams on the weekend -- ASPP of Paris, Toulon and the Nice Sprinters.

Before the pair of 125-kilometre road races, Hubbard will participate in a competition on an indoor track in Cannes, France, on Thursday night.

ELLIOTT HUBBARD.