Christmas has come early for Tyler Butterfield.

For the Island triathlete has been presented with a state-of-the-art racing cycle as reward for his endeavours this season.

Butterfield, based in Australia but back on the Island for the festive period, is now the world's number three junior following his bronze medal performance at the World Championships in Cancun. He also represented the Island at the Commonwealth Games, coming in 14th among some of the most elite runners on earth.

To mark those achievements Butterfield was presented with a Trek cycle by local company Winners Edge and the aforementioned US cycle manufacturers. With the hi-tech wheels that Butterfield has put on the bike its value is in the region of $5,000.

"It's the second best Trek you can get - top of the line components and the same kind that they ride in the Tour De France," said Butterfield of the 17lb machine.

Butterfield said he extremely grateful for the gift, which he said had come after 12 months of hard work.

"For me this is my prize for the Worlds," he said. "I wanted to do well not just for myself and for my country but because I knew it would help me along the way (with sponsorship)."

Butterfield said the bike would hopefully take him all the way to the Olympics in 2004.

"Today was the first time I had ridden it and it feels so nice," he said. "It's great to have a bike like this - my last one was three years old."

Butterfield and his new bike will debut at an triathlon in Tasmania in March before heading to the Australian Nationals in April.