Just when it looked as if the Island's top female cyclists, Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley, were about to celebrate one of their finest rides ever on Sunday, disaster struck.

Racing in the prestigious Wachovia Liberty Classic in Philadelphia, Claude was involved in a sickening crash during a bunch sprint just 250 metres from the finish line.

Her injuries required hospital treatment and have almost certainly knocked her out of this weekend's Bermuda national cycling championships.

Recovering at home yesterday, having arrived back a day later than expected, Claude explained what had happened.

"Jules (Hawley) and I were both having great rides and I was just over the moon to have the opportunity to contest the sprint with the top pros, because it doesn't happen often," she recalled.

"I tried to pass another girl to move up at 250 metres to go and hit a median in the centre of the road at full speed. I landed on my back and couldn't move and had to be taken away on a stretcher.

"I was in a lot of pain but to be honest I was really angry about what had happened."

Claude expects her recovery to take some time but is not discouraged by the experience.

"I just want to get back on the bike and finish my preparation for the Island Games and World Bs. I refuse to get discouraged, I have worked too hard. This will just make me stronger."

Racing on the same course as the men in the USPRO Championships on a tough four lap 90 kilometre event which was watched by an estimated 500,000-strong crowd, the local women had stayed with the lead pack in what was an aggressive race from the start as 140 top professional riders fought for the coveted title.

With powerhouse Team Saturn looking to lead German Petra Rossner to her sixth successive win in the event, it was destined to become a war of attrition but both Claude and Hawley managed to stay in contention as one breakaway after another was pulled back.

Looking back on the event, Hawley had mixed emotions.

"It was a great race for us riding in such a high calibre field," she said. "I think it was even better than the Commonwealth Games, and we were both right in the mix. It was a fast race from the start and the main hill was very tough. It was a little like Knapton Hill and Lighthouse Hill, only longer.

"I was so happy to be in the lead group at the end, we were both riding so well."

However, her enthusiasm was tempered as she described Claude's ordeal. "We were coming into the finishing straight and to be honest I felt I had accomplished what I came to do and that was to be in the lead group at the finish. I pulled over to the right and saw everything. Melanie was really going for it and the next thing she went right over her bars, it was awful, I felt so bad for her."

Saturn's Lyne Bessette went on to win the event in two hours and 23 minutes with Lyn Gaggioli of Team Velo Bella in second, nine seconds behind. Hawley was given the same time as Gaggioli.