Canadian Glen Rendall may say it is a friendly rivalry, but expect him to give his all to stave off the challenge of Bermuda's own Kris Hedges at this week's CD&P cycling Grand Prix.

The annual event begins tomorrow with the prestigious Front Street Grand Prix, continues on Friday with the time trial, features a criterium on Saturday and concludes with a road race on Sunday.

And though smiling widely Rendall, who last year rode for Hedges' Snow Valley team, says he is here with one goal, to beat the Bermudian to the finish line.

Hedges and his team-mates will provide tough opposition, particularly as he is on home soil and will have the backing of a fervent crowd.

But Rendall and his Winners Edge-Colnago colleagues are determined to spoil the homecoming for the Island's US-based number one.

"It's a friendly rivalry," Rendall said. "I rode with him all last year and he brought me to Bermuda to do the junior clinic and also to do the (CD&P) race here.

"This year I concentrated a little more on track so I stayed in Canada a little bit more.

"But I knew this was a big race for Kris and his team so I got to thinking this was a good opportunity for us to come and maybe show them a little stuff."

Rendall has nothing but respect for Hedges and the way the Bermudian has raised his profile on the cycling circuit.

"Kris is a very smart rider, super strong and has a lot of experience for his age such as the Commonwealth Games, that's for sure," said Rendall. "I didn't really know much about Bermuda cycling before I met Kris but last year being on the team I realised there were quality riders coming out of Bermuda.

"He is one to watch and will be keen for this race."

Rendall is no slouch himself but is downplaying his form coming here.

"I have OK form but I think there are some other people in the team who are in a bit better form than me right now," he said. "Everybody has been training well. Our season pretty much just wound down in Canada last weekend and so now everybody is kind of rested a little bit. After a long season that is pretty good because after you rest a little bit you can actually come back a little bit stronger."

The team have a core group with others coming in and out periodically.

"I don't ride day to day with these guys as I have a track focus," Rendall said. "Most of these guys are specific to road. They have been really good with me as far as helping me out when I need to do some road racing."

As for a gameplan?

"The main thing is to get someone in each move," he said. "That is where we are going to start from - represent the team just by being in the moves to begin with.

"Obviously we are going to try and win the race but you have to be up the road before you can win the race. That's the main focus for us."

As Rendall pointed out the Grand Prix comes at the end of the season for a lot of riders, but he said there was no way people were coming here solely to soak up the sun.

"I think everybody is going to be pushing it," he said. "I don't think anybody is going to be riding easy. It's at the end the season for a lot of people but everyone still has form so the race is going to be very competitive.

"No one is out of shape so that adrenaline is always there. You are looking around and you see US Postal and you see Mercury, it gets the adrenaline going and you want to race."