Bermuda's top two women cyclists will take on the men when the 20th IBC Front Street Race Series gets underway tomorrow morning.

Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley will line up with the likes of Jason Krupp, Steve Millington and Steve Sterritt in the road race for category two and three cyclists.

And Claude, who gave up triathlon last year and rode several races succesfully against male competitors, cannot be discounted from putting on yet another impressive show.

In a move indicating the depth of talent on the Island, teenagers Tyler Butterfield and Jonathan Herring will skip their junior boys event, in which they finished one and two respectively 12 months ago, to participate in the elite race.

National cycling coach Greg Hopkins believes Sterritt and Millington will provide the strongest threat to holder Jason Krupp's King of the Road title.

"Jason was the instigator of the three-man breakaway last year and it's the perfect sort of race for him -- very aggressive and fast,'' said Hopkins.

"But there's no doubt that Sterritt and Millington are the two strongest cyclists on the Island at the moment.

"They finished their seasons very late last year with the World B Championships and they've maintained that fitness level throughout the winter.

"Judging by the turnout we had last week for the first race of the season -- a 35-mile road race at Southside -- it should be a really good race because a lot of people are in shape so early in the year.'' In the absence of Claude and Hawley, Hopkins can see no further than Gina Jones in the women's race. She is making a comeback to road racing after toying with triathlon and running.

"She's a very clever rider,'' said Hopkins. "She used to be one of the top riders in Bermuda and what she lacked in fitness she often made up for in experience.'' The series also features sprint titles for men and women, junior races and pee wee fun races for the youngest entrants. Action starts at 8.00 a.m. on Front Street.