Bermudian Geri Mewett warmed the hearts of all those lining Front Street last night by placing fifth, but it was Englishman Russell Downing who stole the show at the Hamilton Criterium, the first leg of the CD&P Grand Prix.

Having just finished the gruelling Tour of Britain last week, placing ninth overall, one might have thought that the 2005 British national champion?s legs would struggle to cope with a lightning fast criterium on a challenging course.

But having sat in the peloton for most of the 45-minute race last night, the DFL Cyclingnews.com rider took total command of proceedings with five laps to go, leaving the chasing pack beaten and demoralised as he relentlessly went about establishing a huge lead ? ultimately winning the race by 15 seconds from American TIAA-CREF rider Will Frischkorn and by 20 seconds from the third-placed Tim Johnson of Team Catlin.

Mewett, meanwhile, who has enjoyed a fantastic season of pro/am riding in the United States where he now lives, endured the worst possible start to last night?s 28.6-kilometre dash when he was caught behind a small crash at the end of the first lap and was forced to come to a complete standstill.

But demonstrating the impressive power which has turned him into a gifted criterium rider, the former Olympic swimmer forced his way back into the race and was actually leading the pack after 26 minutes.

Downing?s incredible break with five laps to go caught everyone off guard, however, with the Englishman allowed to coast over the line unchallenged.

The elite men?s race was delayed for over 20 minutes on a humid and relatively still night on Front Street, as one rider who had only arrived on the Island about 40 minutes before the start struggled desperately to put his race bike together as the rest of the 63-man field waited impatiently on the start line.

But when the race did eventually get underway well after 9 p.m., the pace was fast and furious, as a succession of substantial primes in the opening stages ensured that no rider in the leading pack was prepared to sit in the comfort zone.

The pace proved too demanding for Bermuda?s only other representative in the elite male category, as national mountain bike champion Garth Thompson was pulled from the race by officials after 20 frenetic minutes.

Afterwards, the tall, ginger-haired Mewett said he was happy with the result ? despite having his early momentum interrupted.

?Half way through the first lap the crash happened and it?s obviously not ideal in a race of that speed to have to work your way right from the back to the front,? said the defending Cheerios Dockyard Criterium champion.

?To come back from there certainly took a lot of hard work and the legs were burning a bit at the end there but physically I feel OK. I?ve had a fantastic year, preparing for the Commonwealth Games and then winning quite a few races up in the States and putting in a few top fives as well. So hopefully I can have a good few days back home.?

Criterium winner Downing praised his three team-mates for their support in the race?s early stages and admitted he would be under intense pressure for the next three stages to defend his 15-second lead.

?I think there?ll be quite a few of the other teams going for us ? but the team is going very well, we?re full of confidence so hopefully I can hang on.?

The Grand Prix?s next stage, the XL Lighthouse Challenge begins this evening at 5 p.m..

Women?s Grand Prix ? Page 21