Come August 3, Bermuda's hopes will be on ace cyclist Kris Hedges to reproduce the form that earned him a creditable fourth place in the road race at last year's World B Championships in China.

However, putting together another tactically sound performance in the 110-mile Commonwealth Games road race will be a huge task for Hedges, says Bermuda's national cycling coach Greg Hopkins.

Hedges will only have two compatriots - Geri Mewett and Steve Millington - to assist him in this mammoth task while top cycling nations such as Australia, New Zealand and England field full five-member teams.

"From what we've seen of the profile of the course - and obviously the quality of the field - it's going to be a very difficult race," said Hopkins.

"The Commonwealth Games is without doubt a world-class competition and when you've got teams like Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa then the standard is going to be very high. Three of Australia's riders will all be coming from the Tour de France, so that tells you.

"Kris is our team leader and Geri and Steve will be working as a team to help him as much as they can - to get him into positions where he will hopefully be in the lead pack towards the end of the race. That's going to be a really difficult job."

Still Hopkins remains confident that, given the intense training and preparation over the past two years, the Bermudian contingent can - with a bit of luck - achieve its goal.

"Bike racing is very tactical. It's a bit like a chess game. There are many things that can happen. While the major nations are putting their team plans into effect there are opportunities for smaller countries like Bermuda to take advantage of that," he said, recalling the success of retired national cyclist Elliot Hubbard in past international meets.

Hedges, the coach noted, has shown "similar strengths to Elliot in climbing ability" and this will be crucial for the Commonwealth Games.

"That's certainly going to be a factor. There is some stiff climbing in the road race. Kris is riding for a very good team - Snow Valley in the USA - and they do the majority of the big races so he is getting exposure. Invariably, in the USA, he is working for a team leader but as we saw when he went to China, where he was given a free rein and just missed out on the bronze, he has got the ability to produce and that's what we're hoping for," said Hopkins.

Prior to the men's road race, scheduled for the afternoon, the women's 70-mile road race takes place in the morning. Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley have qualified to represent the Island in this event.

"Melanie and Julia feed off each other and work well together but, obviously with just two of them, they won't work team tactics when they are up against teams of five riders from other countries. The expectation there is for them to finish in the front third of the field but again it's going to be tough," said the coach.

Though pleased Bermuda was able to get five cyclists qualified for the Commonwealth Games, Hopkins regretted that two other prominent riders - MacInnis Looby and Wayne Scott - did not make the required standard. Had they been making the trip, this would have helped Hedges considerably.

Bermuda's cyclists will continue their steady build-up in the coming weeks. Hawley, Claude and Millington leave today to compete in the Fitchburg Longo Classic in Massachusetts - a major four-day stage race. Hedges and Mewett will train at their respective bases in the USA.

The cycling contingent will gather in Manchester, England, on July 23 where they will spend a final week training and familiarising themselves with the course on which they will race.