Seventy five seems to be the magic number for local cycling this weekend as the Bermuda Bicycle Association stages the National Road Race Championships tomorrow morning at Southside, St. Davids.

That is the exact number of local entries for arguably the most important title for a rider to have on their resume in the world of cycling. It is also the mileage that the Island's top riders will have to cover in order to win that title. And if the weather forecasts prove to be accurate, it will also be the temperature and humidity that bumper field of entries, in the RMS Construction Limited sponsored event, will face in what is likely to prove a war of attrition.

The only relief that the top riders can take into the event is that reigning Champion and recent three time winner of the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race Kris Hedges left the Island shortly after his history making feat to resume racing with his Washington-based, Snow Valley Team, leaving the event wide open.

Professional triathleteTyler Butterfield, second to Hedges on Heritage Day, and Steve Millington, who took the Time Trial Championship last Sunday and was second to Hedges in the Road Race last year, enter as the favourites.

However, spokesman Greg Hopkins does not believe that they will be the only two in contention.

"There are a number of riders who have worked very hard this season that will have a chance. Karl Outerbridge and Martin Petitt have ridden very well this year, and I know Whayman Butterfield and Earl Godfrey are looking for good performances," he said.

"If Tyler and Steve make a mistake these guys will be waiting to pounce." National Team members Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley, fresh from outstanding performances in England last weekend, will battle each other this weekend for the top womens title.

Veteran Vic Ball will be looking to continue his dominance of that division, but will likely find a worthy opponent in Ricky Sousa, who is the title sponsor of the event.

With a full slate of categories scheduled for tomorrow's racing the action is likely to be fast and furious with events starting at 8 a.m.