CYCLIST Tyler Butterfield is looking forward to the 2008 season after rejoining French outfit Vendee U after enduring a season from hell.

The 25-year-old unwittingly battled through his debut season with Slipstream with an undetected stomach virus which sapped his energy, rocked his confidence and had teammates doubting his ability.

When he finally zapped the bug after taking himself in for a diagnosis in Boston after team doctors failed to spot the problem he then suffered a broken collarbone just weeks later.

But the plucky Bermudian said the season from hell has only made him stronger.

Speaking from Australia after an early morning 120K bike ride which still left him feeling fresh for another afternoon training session he explained: "When I was sick if I felt I had done three hours on the bike I just wanted to go home and lay on the couch for the rest of the day.

"I would have five days when I would feel good and then it would fall into a hole."

The Giardia bug was only picked up when he took himself in for tests in June. He believes he struggled with the illness for months, probably picking it up in Africa in November 2006, or possibly in Spain when he first got there in February to join his teammates. It could have been cured in 24 hours if it had been spotted.

Training then had gone badly in Australia during the early months of 2007.

After one race for Bermuda at the Pan American Games which was just a bunch finish he went back overseas to train with his fellow athlete girlfriend in Switzerland only to get hit by a car and break his collarbone in August.

"That was pretty much the end of racing in the 2007. Since then one of the guys in the Vendee U professional team came up to me at a race I was at with Slipstream and said that I should go back to Vendes-U for a year. So they offered me a spot.

"They want me to be one of the older guys. I am 25 and most of them are in their early 20s.

"Me and this French guy are going to be the leaders of the team. It should be a good experience. I always like to learn something new," said Butterfield who might not be back in Bermuda until October.

He said his Slipstream teammates didn't realise his physical problem and had doubted his ability.

"You could see them thinking, 'he's not going to make it, he's not talented enough'. Deep down I knew something wasn't right. You start to question yourself. It has really built up my confidence even though it was a bad thing and a hard year. Now if I don't feel good I don't wait for other people. I know it is not in my head.

"I have trained professionally since I was 19 and I know when I am going hard and what is supposed to hurt. Everyone in life at some point doubts themselves but you have to just know your own body and how you handle things. Never lie to yourself."

Butterfield will be based back in Spain where had been living with Slipstream but most of his races will be in France.

Between February and October he plans to cram in up to 70 race days. Last year he did just 28 races. "They were pretty much a joke because if your body is not ready for it you can finish but no one wants to join races just to finish.

"It should be good. Vendee U really believe in me. They said they will take me back because they know I am a strong rider. It is a good to be with a team that really believes in you and that backs you with all the training and racing.

"I was frustrated with last season. Being with Slipstream was such a good opportunity. But there was nothing I could do ¿ a parasite and a broken collarbone.

"They had a lot of big new riders who had ridden a tour four or five times.

"They were a really growing team that was in their first main year in Europe. A lot of riders didn't go well and you need a team that believes in you ¿ when you are going bad they tell you to either rest or what to do.

"But you have to be healthy otherwise your body just won't cope. When you are healthy and your mind is straight and you have the confidence and a team backing you it is amazing what you can do."

His goal this year is to be consistent. "I really haven't been consistent in my whole career since I was 19. I had a few good results as a triathlete and a bike racer with Vendee U, a few wins and a few yellow jerseys in some tours. Really it is all about consistency. With Vendee U I have really been a worker.

"I like working for other people especially when I know some of my team mates can really pull it off in the end. It will be a different year with that pressure on me. I have worked on my sprint. If you are consistent your team mates will want to work for you. It should be a good year."