Bermuda.

Officials yesterday confirmed that the International Triathlon Union's World Cup circuit will stop in Hamilton on September 21 as part of their ten-race professional series.

Not only will triathletes be chasing $85,000 in prize money -- up $15,000 from a year ago -- they will be looking to earn world ranking points, the primary criteria for entry into the 2000 Sydney Olympics when triathlon makes its debut as a full Olympic sport.

Like all races in the ITU World Cup series, the event will consist of a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40K bike and 10K run. The course, concentrated around Front Street and Hamilton city centre, is expected to differ slightly from last year.

Race director Sutherland Madeiros said yesterday the changes were "minor'' but would not reveal details until final approval from the Corporation of Hamilton.

The Ministry of Tourism, ACE Ltd. and Bermuda Commercial Bank are on board as primary sponsors and figure to get exposure through Fox, which is carrying all the ITU World Cup events on its sports cable networks worldwide.

All three were main sponsors last year and once they agreed to come back on board, the event went ahead, said Madeiros. "After the first event (in 1995), the ITU was very pleased being in Bermuda and how it was run.'' Men's and women's race will be raced separately this year -- the women's beginning at 8.00 a.m., the men's at 10.45 a.m. -- unlike last year when there was a small overlap.

Last year, Russian outsider Dimitry Gaag stunned the field when he completed the course in one hour, 39 minutes and 42 seconds. Austrailia's world number one Emma Carney won the women's race in 1:49:34.

Carney also won the latest World Cup event on July 6 in Gamagori, Japan, before a crowd of 15,000 and heads the women's world rankings after four races.

The mens' event was won by Australian Brad Beven, although another Aussie, Chris McCormack, who did not race in Japan, leads the rankings. McCormack also competed here last year.

Although they are not in the same class as the professionals coming to Bermuda, top Island triathletes will likely be invited to participate in the race.