GARTH Thomson is tipped to be the main man as Bermuda's cyclists fly out next week for the Caribbean Championships in St. Vincent.

Last year Thomson scooped a bronze medal as Bermuda's sole representative in Martinique ¿ despite suffering from health problems.

Team manager Peter Dunne said: "He had some sort of infection on his way and was quite ill when he finished the time trial but still did well with a pretty good performance."

But now he is super fit said Dunne who this time around is in charge of a strong squad. "Garth is the top guy on the team right now. He's been really focusing on his time trials.

"This past Sunday we had a time trial from Bacardi to the St. David's roundabout and back ¿ he broke his record by a minute on that and the set the record last year.

"So purely for time trials he is as strong as he's ever been, he's going to be focusing on that and hoping to recover in sufficient time to contribute in the road race as well."

And Dunne is expecting big things of Geri Mewett, a Bermudian who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee and Tyler Butterfield who last went to the championships two years ago in BVI where he was "the marked man" according to Dunne.

"We sent an incredibly strong team to Tortola and as a result they were watching us night and day and Tyler was very closely marked. He still finished in the top ten."

Dunne hopes if Butterfield is given the same treatment, there will be opportunities for his teammates to break out.

Thomson's wife Dee McMullen is the sole woman on the team and also could figure among the medals, said Dunne.

The time trial is on the Sunday with road race the following day.

"I think we can do exceedingly well in both disciplines. Garth's time trialing looks awesome so I anticipate he would be able to put on another great performance.

"In the road race it's a bit of a crap shoot some days, but if you can get the right combination ¿ having two guys like Geri and Tyler who know each other and their riding styles, they work really well.

"If Garth recovers the next day that is even better for us, then people will be looking at him and maybe not other athletes.

"And Dee is incredibly strong at the moment ¿ really quite powerful. I think her time trialing is really strong."

He said Bermudian women had traditionally done well at CCC events.

Dunne, who is president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association, is taking Aaron Place as helper and to also get a closer look at the adult level having taking part in CCC junior events for the past couple of years.

"He can take a peak ¿ it's a big step up," said Dunne.

At least 20 countries are expected in St. Vincent.

Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica are all usually strong while Barbados and Trinidad are powerhouses with a great track record of results.

"But there are people from all over who on any given day can do well. The level of competition has risen dramatically over recent years. It's a very, very difficult competition these days, there is a lot more depth in different countries so the team dynamic is a lot stronger."

A 12-mile loop will form the basis for both races.

"It is supposed to be quite hilly, there is supposed to be one very steep section, I have heard it's as steep as Knapton Hill, only a lot longer," said Dunne.

"But to be honest when it is coming from the race organiser I take it with a grain of salt as nobody wants to give away what it really looks like.

"Before we went to Curacao this year they were telling us it's pretty flat. When we got there we found a huge hump in the middle of it.

"People don't want you to be prepared about it, but I am not too fussed. We can only train with the terrain we have here ¿ I was saying to Garth, get as fit as you possibly can and go from there."