Bermuda will have a small but strong contingent of athletes competing in the amateur age groups at the World Duathlon Championships in Affoltern, Switzerland this weekend.

Ricky Sousa in the Men's 40-44 age group has had an outstanding season including a first place finish in his age group at the Canadian National Duathlon Championships and a third in the US National Duathlon Championships.

Sousa was also third at the Bermuda National Duathlon Championships in March of this year behind twins Riaan and Evan Naude. A strong cyclist and runner he has placed in the top ten in the May 24 Marathon Derby and fourth in the National Cycling Road Race Championships.

For 27-year-old Evan Naude this will be his second World Championships having participated as a junior for South Africa in the 1996 event in Ferrara, Italy where he finished a creditable 18th overall in a competitive junior elite category.

Naude, the Front Street Mile winner in January, finished second in the Bermuda National Duathlon Championships just six seconds behind brother Riaan but has yet to test himself in international competition this year.

However, he has been preparing well for these championships and is expected to finish up the field in the 25-29 age group. For Naude the only disappointment will be that his brother, who was to have competed, will only be on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Lyn Patchett has also enjoyed great success this season as a duathlete, cyclist and runner and will certainly be in contention for a top ten finish and possibly a medal position.

Patchett won the Bermuda National Duathlon Championships and won her 35-39 age group at both the Canadian National Duathlon Championships and was first amateur overall.

She also won her age group at the US South East Regional Duathlon Championships by over four minutes and was second woman overall.

At the Island Games in Guernsey in June Patchett took a gold and silver in the cycling events and was second in this year's May 24 Bermuda Marathon Derby run, having won the event in 2002.

The World Duathlon Championships get underway tomorrow with the elite professional races, while the age group amateur events are scheduled for Sunday morning. The race for the elite and amateurs consists of a 10km run, 40km bike and 5km run.