There were no doubt some sighs of relief among the top male cyclists this week when they learned that Melanie Claude and Julia Hawley would both be away for the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race on Friday.

Regarded as the most prestigious cycling event on the Island, the event saw Claude finish a creditable fifth overall last year, out-sprinting most of the men in the field.

However, the two women will be on their travels again in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July.

While Claude has already met the standards, Hawley still has to provide a result that will book her ticket.

This weekend they will race in a top women's event in Bedford, England, that will see them lining up against some of the women expected to be in the British team in Manchester.

Regarding missing Friday's race in Bermuda even their coach Greg Hopkins, a former winner of the event, joked: "When we chose this event, I thought at least they won't beat me again this year."

But he quickly added: "Julia has had some bad luck this season in races overseas. In Solano (California) when Melanie qualified, Julia missed the break, and then a few weeks later she had a very bad flu bug just before racing in Boston".

Hopkins believes that Hawley has what it takes to make the grade this weekend.

"She is a tough determined fighter, and has given everything to meet the standards. If she rides to her abilities this weekend I think she will make it," he said.

Hawley fully understands the task ahead of her with the Games only two months away.

"I'm confident I'm going to meet the standard. My training recently bears out that I should have two days of good racing. I've had bad luck but you just have to put that behind you and focus ahead. I'm really excited about this weekend," she said.

Hawley also believes Claude making the trip could be the difference.

"I think that it displays we are a good team together. We feed off each other. When one of us isn't performing well, the other one is there for them," she said. "Melanie wants us both in Manchester. It will be a big help having her there."

Asked what will happen if she doesn't make the standard this weekend, Hawley said simply: "I'm not thinking about not making it"

The Bedford event will see the two women competing in three races in two days. On Saturday morning they will race over 70 kilometres on a rolling course with what organisers describe as 'a couple of stiff climbs' in the last three kilometres, and then in the afternoon there will be a flat and fast 4.3K time trial.

On Sunday, they are faced with a 110K road race that will be over a varied course of demanding climbs, fast downhills and open roads susceptible to tough crosswinds.

Claude is clearly more focused on Hawley's performance this weekend when she says: "Obviously the more I do racing internationally the better, but this weekend I want to do all I can to help Julia make the standard.

"We are both so close in ability but things have just not worked at the right time for her so far this year. We both work so hard in training, hopefully it will all come together for her."

The two riders leave tomorrow..