in France before the Grand Prix du Monaco from September 11-15, a four-stage extravaganza he considers as his most important competition of the year.

Besides representing the home side as a member of the Union Cycliste du Monaco, Hubbard is counting on a good showing, so much so that he is coming off a rare three-week break at the urging of his coach Michel Ducas.

Ducas, who owns the nouvelle cuisine restaurant just below Hubbard's apartment, has been stressing the importance of moderation and a steady diet of rest, so that his protege can be in peak form for the Grand Prix.

On Sunday, Hubbard will be on the starting line for the Souviner Gianello, a 145-kilometre race near his home in Provence. Although the flat and rolling course puts him at a clear disadvantage -- he considers climbing his strong suit -- Hubbard will use the event as more of a training session.

However, he sees the Grand Prix du Tourves on August 29 as the last crucial test before the Monaco race.

The 145-kilometre race "is more to my liking, with more climbing involved,'' said Hubbard. "The area is similar to where I live, very mountainous. I'm hoping to put in a good result.'' The result he compiled last July at the Ospedetali Criterium in Bordigeira, Italy, will be difficult to reproduce, but will certainly be used as the benchmark for both the Tourves and Monaco races. It was in that race that Hubbard finished in first place, the highlight of his career.

Since then he has finished in the top 20 several times, but is now prone to dismiss any finish outside the top 10 after Ospedetali.

The Grand Prix du Monaco will consist of a 130-kilometre road race on September 11, followed by two hill climbing events on September 14. The small circuit criterium on September 15 -- a series of five-lap "sprints'' -- will be the last part of the Grand Prix.

Hubbard expects to excel in the first three stages since the small circuit is an area where "I'm not very strong. It's just not my style,'' he said.

"Plus it's dangerous with so many riders competing.'' The Bermudian sees at least four other teams in the same class as his own Monaco unit, representatives from Toulon, Cannes, Mandilleux (Cote d'Azur) and Italy. Besides Hubbard, the top racers on the Monaco squad are brothers Christophe and David Podvin, Martin Aoun and Jean-Paul Cesare.

Hubbard hopes the brief rest period will put him in a good frame of mind for the Grand Prix.

ELLIOTT HUBBARD -- Big plans for Grand Pix du Monaco.