the best weekend of his cycling career in France.

The rest proved to be just what Hubbard needed as he returned on Saturday to win the inaugural La Vietto-D'azure -- a new 155 kilometre mountain race. A total of 100 senior riders started but after 30km Hubbard was in a two-man break from the pack and the pair continued to ride together for the next 125km.

With neither letting up, the race came down to a sprint finish which Hubbard won by a fraction of a bike length. It was his second major road race victory on a mountainous course, which has proved to his liking. Such was the pair's lead that the third place rider was 10 minutes behind.

Hubbard was awarded the yellow jersey by the son of the late Rene Vietto, a top ranking Tour de France rider in the 1930s and '40s. Vietto died a couple of years ago.

On Sunday, Hubbard was back in the saddle, this time for a hill climbing race called the Col-de Braus. Some 60 riders started the 10km hill climb just outside Nice and Hubbard finished second in a sprint to the finish.

The Bermudian teenager had been advised to take a week off after bruising his knees in the first stage -- a time trial -- of the Tour de Gare a couple of weeks ago. He hit a pot hole and landed on his knees.

He was forced to retire from that stage and was taken to hospital where x-rays revealed severe bruising. In the afternoon second stage, a 105km race, Hubbard managed to finish 13th out of 130 riders, despite his injury.

ELLIOTT HUBBARD -- first and second place finishes over the weekend.