Bermuda Bicycle Association (BBC) president Peter Dunne expects this weekend’s Bank of Bermuda Foundation Time Trial Championships to be tightly contested with a number of riders capable of winning the race.New champions will be crowned at Southside with last year’s winners, Garth and Deanna Thomson having left the Island.Among those in contention for the vacant crown will be Shannon Lawrence, Sinclair Packwood Memorial race winner Darren Glasford and Mark Hatherley while Grant Goudge and Neil Lupsic might be the dark horses.Dunne, however, expects the women’s category to be relatively straightforward with Karen Bordage a clear favourite after Nicole Mitchell suffered an injury during international race last month.Riders will compete over a 3.4-mile course starting at Clearwater, with senior men completing six laps for 20.4 miles, while senior women will do five laps for 17 miles and juniors four laps for 13.6 miles.In addition, time trial races over age-appropriate distances will be staged for younger juniors not competing in the junior championship distance: 13-14 10.2 miles, 11-12 6.8 miles and ten and under 3.4 miles.“With local bike racing popularity at an all-time high, we are expecting a record entry for the event,” said Dunne. “Often known as the ‘race of truth’, the time trial is as much a test of a rider’s focus and determination as it is of fitness and physical strength on the bike.“In the men’s divisions, the event is wide open with several riders in contention including Shannon Lawrence, Darren Glasford, Mark Hatherley, Grant Goudge, and Neil Lupsic who are all genuine contenders based on their time trialing performances this season.“Karen Bordage should be a comfortable favourite for the women’s crown, especially with Nicole Mitchell sidelined by a horrific crash earlier this month in Vermont.“Among the juniors, based on his current form, Dominique Mayho looks set to unseat current junior champion, Tre-Shun Correia, with Ryan Gunn and Mark Godfrey having an outside chance.“Gabriella Arnold (Winners Edge) looks set to take the junior women’s title.Championship races will be held in six categories open men and women, masters (age 40 and over) men and women and junior (18 and under) men and women.The top finishing Bermudians will be recognised as national champions.The format sees riders starting individually at one-minute intervals in a race against the clock.