Bermuda's top woman cyclist Melanie Claude will be in action during the Grand Prix and will be looking to cap a terrific year with another impressive performance.

Claude followed her victory in the Coupe des Ameriques stage event in July with an excellent 14th place in the Canadian International Grand Prix in a field of 50 top riders.

Both events were held in Quebec, Canada, but the second was an elite race where she was up against top pros.

Her efforts impressed the French national coach so much that he invited her to take part in the women's version of the Tour de France next year.

Earlier this month, Claude competed in the Killington Stage Race in Vermont, the top stage race in the US.

And despite crashing, she still managed a 14th place finish.

The 38-year-old has chosen to race against male cyclists during the domestic season, rather than dominate the women's category without serious competition.

And she felt that decision had helped her to improve.

"I think a lot of credit goes to the senior male riders here because they are letting me train with them,'' said Claude.

"I enjoy riding with the men but it would be nice to have more females there.

But riding with the men has prepared me to ride with female pros.

"I would like to do well in the Grand Prix because we've got quite a few female pros coming down.'' One of those is Saturn rider Kendra Wenzel and another Laura Van Gilder, a member of Elliot Hubbard's Navigators team.

Claude will have her hands full competing against the experienced Van Gilder, considered one of the finest sprinters in the US.

The 34-year-old has 76 career victories to her name, including 16 last year, and the fact she has won the Bear Mountain Race, the Hellertown Criterium and the Seaford Road Race this year illustrates her all-round talents.

National coach Greg Hopkins said: "We are looking forward to seeing Melanie ride against the pros. She is riding on a par with them this year.'' Hopkins has emphasized there will be no official Bermuda team riding in the Grand Prix, but he indicated that in some race situations, local riders would work together.

"The quality of the field will be pretty awesome and even though there will be a number of national squad riders taking part, we don't think it would be fair to put them in a team situation in that sort of field,'' said Hopkins.

"We are talking about guys who ride for a living against guys who ride in their spare time.

"We feel that being together as a time would attract attention and put a lot of pressure on them.'' The Grand Prix gives a rare opportunity for many local cyclists to race against the very best.

Hopkins said: "We have a very strong group of junior riders and they are really excited about who is coming.

"For the category two and three riders on the Island, competing against people like this can be quite intimidating, so they are torn between looking forward to it and being a bit apprehensive.'' First lady: Bermuda's top female cyclist Melanie Claude.