American Laura VanGuilder scored a major triumph for TEAm Lipton and all the 40-something year-olds around the world on the dimly lit streets of Hamilton last night.

The 41-year-old native of Pennsylvania held off strong challenges from rivals Stacy Marple, Rachel Heal and Felicia Gomez near the Flag Pole finish line on Front Street to savour victory in a time 29 minutes 28 seconds in the women?s criterium, the opening event of the 2006 CD&P Grand Prix.

VanGuilder remained with the lead group throughout the race before finally powering away yards from the finish.

She led four of the 15 laps on a night that saw the lead change hands on 11 different occasions and also pocketed $1,050 in primes (cash awards) for added measure.

And for her superb efforts VanGuilder was awarded the leader?s jersey, an honour never before bestowed upon her during local cycling?s premier event.

?It feels great because this is the first time wearing the leader?s jersey and Lipton is very happy to be here on the Island and we?re excited and looking to continue our victory streak,? a relaxed VanGuilder told The Royal Gazette.

Marple finished second and Heal third on a night of intense racing through the city?s streets. Gomez, meanwhile, pocketed $450 in primes and also captured the prestige cycling series on the ninth lap of the race which saw the lead group of four riders break away from the rest of the field at the half-way mark of the race.

Pre-race favourite, defending champion and former world champion Karen Brems finished eighth.

This is VanGuilder?s fourth year of involvement in the annual Grand Prix, having debuted in 1998 and grabbed the lion?s share of primes in 2004.

The American will again generously share her cash earnings among her Lipton team-mates, sponsored by local supermarket Lindos.

?You can?t do it without the help of your team-mates. And we?ll spend the money quite happily while we are here on the Island,? VanGuilder smiled.

The diminutive cyclist made her decisive move on a break from the rest of the field mid-way through the race.

?The initial breakaway was made by Rachel (Heal) and then a Webcor rider (Gomez) bridged up and I realised that was dangerous,? she explained.

?And so I made my way to them as well as some of the other girls who made the break and really there were only two people motivated in that breakaway to work because they all knew I am a great sprinter.

?So they really weren?t comfortable taking me to the line . . . and so they all sat on.?

This frustrating tactic, however, only fuelled VanGuilder?s determination to beat her rivals in a sprint.

?I understood why they did it. But I was also very motivated to win for my team-mates because it is going to be advantageous to me to have the time gap going into the upcoming stages.

?So I knew I had to do the work, but I felt very motivated to win the final.?

Although falling just shy in her bid for the leader?s jersey, Marple was generally pleased with third place.

?It?s always nice to be on the podium, but also difficult to come close and not get the win,? she admitted. ?But it was a good, hard race and there?s really nowhere to rest on the whole course.

?The race is fast as you are continually sprinting round corners and up hills. So every bit of the race has its challenges and it was pretty warm out there tonight.?