The Island's number one rider, now riding professionally in Europe, learned this week he had failed to qualify because he had not earned enough points in designated World Cup races.

National team coach Greg Hopkins said the Bermuda Bicycle Association were notified of the decision and that he broke the news to Hubbard at his home base in Italy.

In his first year as a full-time professional with Italian team AKI, Hubbard had to fulfill the usual role of neo-pro, meaning he was the workhorse for top riders on the team and often sacrificed any opportunity of personal success he may have had.

The tough qualifying standards for the world championships required a rider to accumulate points in World Cup races and although Hubbard rode at that level, his role for the team did not give him the opportunity to earn sufficient points for next month's event in San Sebastian, Spain, Hopkins said.

Not only did Hubbard not qualify for the championships, he is also ineligible for the World B Championships in Malaysia a month later because basically the world governing body (UCI) said he is "too good,'' Hopkins said.

The World B Championships are designed to accommodate riders from smaller countries who cannot make the standards for the world championships, which do not now include an amateur division. The BBA will soon announce which Island riders will compete.

Hubbard competed in the previous world championships, in addition to representing Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and Olympic Games.

The good news for Hubbard is that despite cutbacks on many of the top teams, he has been offered another contract for the 1998 season.

Meanwhile, Bermudian Kris Hedges, currently training in the US, is still going to Spain the same week for the Junior World Championships.