Team Madison Digicel pulled off a men’s and women’s double as the Bermuda Bicycle Association opened the new road racing season with a team time-trial at Southside in St David’s at the weekend.

A total of 24 teams of four riders competed in the 20-mile course race.

Dominique Mayho, Brian Drea, Neil Lupsic and Adam Harbutt, of Team Madison, finished in 50min 44sec, more than one minute ahead of Winner’s Edge.

Mark Hatherley, Justin Ferreira, Kent Richardson and Jermaine Postlethwaite, of Winner’s Edge, finished comfortably in 52:14.

Fast Forward Bicycle Works’ team of Brian Steinhoff, Chequan Richardson, Grant Goudge and Arthur Pitcher came third in 54:41.

The competition demanded two laps of the ten-mile circuit, with each team’s finishing time being taken on the completion of the fourth rider crossing the finish line.

Several women’s teams competed, with the Team Madison Digicel foursome of April Galda, Sarah Bonnett, Martina Olcheski and Kristen Palmer powering to a the finish in 1hr 2min.

Winner’s Edge women’s team of Julia Hawley, Gabriella Arnold, Penelope Butterfield and Deanna Didyk came second in 1:03:02.

Laura Norman, Belinda Castree, Wenda Roberts and Zoe Roberts of Fast Forward Bicycle Works rounded out the podium places in a time of 1:03:34.

The off-road racing season reconvenes this weekend at Lagoon Park, followed by the Winner’s Edge MTB Championships at Ferry Reach on March 16.

A four-hour endurance race on March 23, also at Ferry Reach, completes the season.

The next race on the road racing calendar is a criterium, organised by Fast Forward Bicycle Works, in Hamilton on March 30.