A pragmatic Tyler Butterfield is to resurrect his racing career at former team Vendee U after being jettisoned from pro-outfit SlipStream Sports after a season marred by illness and injury.

A parasite that plagued him for half the campaign, plus a freak training accident later on, put paid to Butterfield's chances of securing a seat with the top American cycling team for 2008.

By his own admission, he did not warrant retaining but is refusing to be downcast and is optimistic a return to top French amateurs Vendee U will upturn his form ... and fortune.

"Slipstream have selected a very strong squad for next season and I haven't made it," Butterfield (pictured) said. "I'd a very average season to put it politely, and I wouldn't have kept me on either if I was them.

"I saw the director of Vendee U at a final race and he told me I was welcome back. They're a strong group and although I'll be competing in the amateur class again, I'll still be racing in some professional races.

"I know I'm lucky to have them as a contact, and that they remember how I can race. I haven't really done anything for a year so it would be hard for me to find another good team.

"It's been very disappointing and frustrating because it hasn't been my fault and I can't even blame myself. I'd a parasite for the first half of the season that I didn't even know about.

"Even my girlfriend (world-class cyclist Nikki Egyed) was beating me in training and I started questioning myself."

Tests later revealed Butterfield had picked up the bug through drinking dirty water but managed to make a recovery for the 2007 Pan-Am Games in Rio, where he finished 32nd, just a second behind the race winner in a bottlenecked race.

Pembroke-born Butterfield aimed to use the promising performance as a launch pad to revive his flagging season, but in keeping with his luckless run he was struck while training in Switzerland by a car and shattered his collarbone.

The selfless 24-year-old went against medical advice to take part in the final two races of the season with his arm strapped up and on a diet of painkillers.

"I really should not have been racing, as a sports doctor advised me I should not race for four weeks," said Butterfield. "But it was the last week of racing for the team in Europe and we didn't have any other team-mates to make up the starting team." Tonight Butterfield joins a host of top cyclists in the annual CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix, which kicks off with the fast and furious Hamilton Criterium. It is the first time since 2004 he has competed in the Island's only international cycling event.

"I came back to Bermuda for a holiday but learned SlipStream were sending three riders, who will stay with me, and I didn't want to miss out on racing in my own country," he said.

"Racing in front of your own support makes a massive difference, there's a lot more motivation.

"My collarbone isn't strong and if I fell it could go again, but I'm sure the crowd will spur me on when things get tough."

Ever the optimist, Butterfield prefers to look to the future rather than dwell on what might have been at SlipStream. He believes his chastening experience will serve to improve his mental toughness.

"People have told me I will come back stronger next season. I'm sad I wasn't able to take advantage of the great opportunity I had at SlipStream, but what can you do?

"I still have a great life and I'm looking forward to a clean bill of health next season so I can get back on track."