The 13th annual CD&P Grand Prix begins tonight on Front Street, with race organisers promising yet another instalment of exhilarating competition between some of the world?s best cyclists.

The four-stage event has attracted entries from 165 competitors this year across four divisions and from nine different countries ? a field regarded as one of, if not the strongest, ever assembled in Bermuda.

In the elite men?s competition, last year?s champion Ivan Stevic from Serbia has not returned to defend his title, but with 2005 British national champion Russell Downey, US Pro Criterium winner Brad Huff and many other big names among the 64-man elite field, the quality of the racing is expected to be of the highest calibre.

Huff is in Bermuda along with some of his team-mates from TIAA-CREF ? the young American professional outfit that top local cyclist Tyler Butterfield signed for two weeks ago following a successful amateur career in France.

Meanwhile, two local riders ? the US-based Geri Mewett and Bermuda mountain bike champion Garth Thompson ? have entered the elite category as well.

Mewett, who actually won last year?s Dockyard Criterium, has enjoyed a decent 12 months competing on the American pro/am circuit ? though he will have his work cut out to place consistently well against such quality riders on each of the four days.

The elite women?s field will be graced by last year?s champion, as former time trial world record holder Karen Brems goes back on her pledge to return to the Island only as team manager of her Webcor-Platinum outfit.

The stand-out names from the list of 48 riders include Rachel Heal of the Victory Brewing team ? who just won the Atlanta Labour Day 10K race earlier this week and is regarded as the next British cycling superstar ? as well as Laura VanGilder from Pennsylvania, a former US national champion and one of the most talented female riders of the last 20 years.

As usual, the Grand Prix kicks off with the fast and frenetic CD&P Hamilton Criterium this evening, where riders go all out not only to secure the best finish but also to capture the many lucrative primes on offer for the fastest lap times.

Tomorrow, meanwhile, there is the XL Lighthouse Challenge, a gruelling uphill time trial where the elite fields will be chasing yet more cash incentives from the sponsor to beat the record for both men and women.

In last year?s elite male category, American Eric Murphy produced the best effort of one minute and 55 seconds on the 1.5 kilometre course ? which starts on Middle Road and progresses up towards Gibb?s Hill Lighthouse before a steep and energy-sapping finish on St. Anne?s Road ? while French Canadian Lyn Bassette was last year?s first elite woman in a time of 2:22.

The third stage is the Cheerios Dockyard Criterium on Saturday which starts at 11 a.m., followed by the Catlin Southside Road Race on Sunday at 8 a.m..

?It?s a real pleasure to be in Bermuda,? said Englishman Russell Downey yesterday, who is a member of the DFL Cycling News team and was the top-ranked British finisher (ninth) in the recently-concluded Tour of Britain.

?All of us really look forward to this event every year and from what I can see, it looks as if this is the strongest field that I have ever competed against.

?In England to get into this event is a big deal and there are always lots of us calling around in the weeks beforehand saying ?are you going to Bermuda?

?The Hamilton Criterium is also very well known as a special event given the number of spectators that usually turn up. There is a special atmosphere on the night and with the $1,000 primes it helps the riders to get even more up for the race and really put on a show.?

American Huff, meanwhile, said he was looking forward to welcoming Butterfield into the TIAA-CREF fold in January, insisting the Bermudian would be entering an environment in which he could only thrive.

The team is run by former US Postal rider Jonathan Vaughters, a multi-time Tour De France veteran who is a highly-regarded figure in cycling circles.

?It?s a very young and exciting team to be involved with,? he said.

?We?re all very close and the guys are willing to sacrifice everything for each other. I?ve never met Tyler in person but I?m sure he?ll do well with us.?