Top female cyclist Melanie Claude looks to have booked her ticket to this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, following an outstanding performance in one of the top races in the US on Thursday - the Solano Classic in California.

Having chosen a high profile race, covering a 60-mile course with over 4,500 feet of climbing, and against a top class field, the Bermudian followed a pre-race plan to the letter in her attempt to meet the Games qualifying standard.

After almost three hours of racing she remained a part of the lead peleton that was contesting ninth place overall following a Saturn team breakaway involving eight riders who separated themselves from the field on the last major climb with some 10 miles to go.

With Lynne Bessette of Saturn taking the victory in a sprint finish with Judith Arndt, Claude was recorded as 40th across the line.

But she was given the the same finishing time as ninth-placed Joanne Kiesanowski of the Diet Rice team, as the lead peleton of 40 riders crossed the line together.

Claude therefore finished among the top 25 percent, as required to meet the Commonwealth Games standard. A total of 93 riders finished the race.

In an event that was destined to be dominated by the powerhouse Saturn team led by Bessette - the hottest rider in the US this season - Claude and her Bermuda team-mate, Julia Hawley, faced a field of 110 riders, including members of the Canadian national team, who will also be at the July Games.

With some torturous climbs ahead of them, both Claude and Hawley, who finished some three minutes behind her team-mate, had been looking to make the qualifying standard by taking no risks.

A clearly relieved Claude said after the race: "It was a very tough day. The climbs were so long and so hard I just remained focused on what I had to do.

"Greg (Hopkins) told us not to take any chances trying to chase down small breaks until after the main hills were over. When the field split on one of the hardest climbs I realised I was in the main peleton of about 40 riders. I worked so hard to stay there, I am so pleased I stayed in. It was just such a tough race."

It was not such a good day for Hawley who fell behind Claude and finished with a small pack of riders.

A disappointed but determined Hawley said: "When it came to the king of the mountain sprint, the field just exploded and I could see Melanie in the lead group ahead. It was so close but we couldn't close the gap. I am so tired right now."

However, she's already looking to the future. "I will ease through the time trial tomorrow (Friday) and then really go for the criterium on Saturday," she added.

Although a result in the one-hour event today would not meet the qualifying standards for Manchester, Hawley sees it as an opportunity to gain more experience.

"We are racing again in Virginia in a couple of weeks and I will try to qualify there. Everything I do here will help," she said.

National coach Hopkins believes that Thursday's performance by Claude was her best ever.

"It was a calculated risk to enter such a tough event so early in their (Claude and Hawley's) season, but we have worked very hard through the winter and early part of the year," he said.

"I knew that they had the preparation but the field was so strong and most of the women were coming off major events on the west coast. We knew the course was very tough with over 4,500 feet of climbing, but their training has gone well. I think this is the best result Melanie has had against a top class field."

The two riders return to Bermuda on Monday.