Hot on the heels of Tyler Butterfield?s second-place stage finish at a prestigious amateur event in France last week, another Commonwealth Games bound Bermudian cyclist enjoyed a hugely successful weekend of racing.

Geri Mewett, who along with Butterfield and Julia Hawley will be making the trip Down Under next month, won the second stage of the Valley of the Sun race in Arizona yesterday.

Preparations for Melbourne have been arduous this year given that the Games come in what is essentially cycling?s off-season ? with few major races available for the athletes to compete in.

But Mewett ? who is based in Tennessee ? showed no signs of winter rustiness when he stormed to victory over the 89-mile route, which ran along a 16-mile loop with 470 feet of climbing per lap, in three hours and fifty three minutes.

The veteran is a long distance specialist and his poor finish in the first stage time trial means that after two out of three stages he remains outside the top ten overall.

But the stage win excited national coach Greg Hopkins.

?This was fantastic victory for Geri,? said Hopkins. ?The Valley of the Sun is the first really big race in America and considering Geri has just been training up to now, to win a stage is incredible and will boost his confidence enormously ahead of Melbourne.?

Hawley, meanwhile, finished 13th in the women?s professional race.