Southside at St. David?s could provide the venue for a battle royale this Sunday as many of the Island?s top multi-sport athletes face off in the National Duathlon Championships in what insiders predict will be the most competitive run-bike-run event seen in Bermuda for many years.

Fresh from impressive performances in the Powerman Alabama Duathlon last weekend, Ricky Sousa, Riann Naude and his twin brother Evan can all be justifiably regarded as favourites to win the first national title of the Bermuda Triathlon Association?s 2005 race calendar.

With Sousa somewhat reluctantly starting as the man to watch after a stellar performance in Alabama that saw him win his 40-plus age category, place third overall in the amateur division and in a time that would have seen him finish eighth in the professional field, over two minutes ahead of the Naude twins, the veteran plays down his chances in Sunday?s Arthur Morris Christensen-sponsored event.

?I had a really good race at the weekend but this Sunday the distances are half of the Powerman and I think that will suit Evan and Riann,? said Sousa, noting that the Alabama event consisted of a 55 kilometre bike leg sandwiched between two eight kilometre runs.

?I made my time up on the bike, I think I was about five minutes faster and with the 30K bike on Sunday that won?t happen.?

However, he shares the view that the race could come down to the wire.

?I will stay as close on the first 5K run as I can, hope to play catch up on the bike and go into the second run ahead. From then on it will be a matter of whether or not I can hold them off.?

Reigning Bermuda national champion Evan Naude has no doubts that the race will be competitive and while accepting that Sousa is in great form believes that there are a number of athletes who could lift the winner?s trophy on Sunday.

?Ricky was really strong in Alabama in the longer distances and my brother (Riann) beat me by six seconds so I would like to get back one on him this weekend. But if Kris Hedges does the event with his fast bike time we could all be chasing him,? said Evan.

?The last run seems to be crucial. Last year I passed my brother in the final stretch and the year before he did the same to me, and so if Ricky or Kris has a lead off the bike then it could all come down to the finishing straight again.?

With a 5K run-30K bike-5K run format, the personable South African strongly believes that there is an important element sometimes overlooked in multi-sport events that can be the deciding factor in the final outcome.

?Over the years I have learned that the transitions are extremely important. Rather than training very hard on the bike to make up a minute, a fast transition can almost win you the race.?

In the women?s field Lynn Patchett offers a daunting task to any challengers after an exceptional performance in Alabama where she clinched top position overall in the amateur division and would have placed third in the professional event.

Clearly happy with her result Patchett said: ?I felt great after the race, my build-up had gone well, the conditions were great especially for the bike, I felt very strong and passed the leader on the second run.?

Having to pass any of her competition on Sunday doesn?t look likely if she adopts her normal strategy.

?I always go into competition the same way, and that is to race as hard as I can regardless of the competition.?

Top triathlete Karen Smith will race on Sunday but was quick to play down her chances against Patchett.

?I have not really raced for so long, and I am only doing the event to get some race experience, my goals are much further down the road with the Wolrd Triathlon Championships in Hawaii in October,? she said.

?I have no expectations at all (this Sunday). I have been training hard and am a little tired, but I will of course race the best I can on the day.?

With junior events for 7-9, 10-12, 13-15 age groups as well as senior and team events, there should be plenty of excitement when the races get underway at 8.15 a.m. at Clearwater Beach.

Deadline for entries is tomorrow at 4.45 p.m. with race package pick-up at the Winners Edge on Front Street on Saturday from 2-4 p.m.