Bermuda's cyclists have not come to the Commonwealth Games just to make up the numbers, declared national cycling coach Greg Hopkins as the team prepared for today's gruelling road race.

Kris Hedges, fresh off a top performance in the time trial, Geri Mewett and Steve Millington compete in the men's event at Rivington outside Bolton, while Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley will be in the women's field. The men's course is 188 kilometres long and consists of 16 11.7 kilometre laps while the women complete 93.5 kilometres over eight laps.

"I think that certainly what we are looking for is solid performances from our Bermuda riders," said Hopkins. "We are not going there with any delusions of medalling but, having said that, in a bike race you just do not know. If you are in the right place at the right time . . . anything is possible.

"Both the girls have shown they can ride at this level as have the men. Very often it just comes down to your preparation, your fitness and strength and everything like that. That's 90 percent of the game but the 10 percent of luck of being in the right place at the right time might be all that we need.

"We are not going out there with the attitude just to finish. If the opportunity arises then they will have a free rein to go for it. If that results in maybe not what we are hoping for we will evaluate the performances afterwards. It's like a big chess game right now."

Hopkins said the team did have a plan, but what they could do was limited by their numbers.

"It's very difficult with having just two riders in the women's and three in the men's to have any kind of strategy when you are up against major countries," he said.

"We do have a strategy, we do have a plan, but it's not a plan like Australia will have as they have four or five of the top riders in the race. Ours will not be a controlling influence in the race, it will be one of just keeping our riders in a competitive position."

The men's and women's events were two completely different animals, said Hopkins.

"Really the girls will have more of a free rein because there is only the two of them," he said. "In any case Melanie and Julia, in most race situations on any given day, there is nothing between the two of them. Neither of them will be what you would class as a designated rider, they will both have to ride their own race.

"Having said that, they would be expected to be in the same sort of area and if they can assist each other they will do. But at the end of the day they will be both looking to get themselves in the best position that they can, they don't have the luxury of having a number of team-mates to help them out."

The men will be working to team orders.

"So far as the men is concerned it is slightly different," Hopkins said. "Obviously, we regard Kris as our designated rider.

"He, too, will be under the pressure of expectation within team and from within Bermuda as well and as such Steve and Geri will definitely be riding a race that is designed to help Kris remain in a position and hopefully get him in place that when the final selection in the race comes, he is in position to be in the top end of the field.

"Their job description on Saturday will be to stay as close as they possibly can to Kris to ensure that he stays out of much trouble as he can. With the nature of the course being so difficult the likelihood or possibility of crashes is high and it's no good if Kris is caught up or involved in an incident and Geri and Steve are 20 or 30 riders up the road, totally unaware of what is going on.

"Their job will be to remain as close to Kris as they can so that if and when he needs any help at all, whether it be closing gaps or pulling back the field, they are there to help him."