Mark Hatherley was officially crowned 'King Of The Hill' on Sunday morning at the Fairmont Princess when he once again blitzed the field in the final event of the Bermuda Bicycle Association's Hill Climb Series.

The three-race series saw riders battle for honours over the past three weekends on some of the Island's toughest climbs.

But going into Sunday's finale, Hatherley had a clear lead after winning the first event on the Harrington Hundreds Hill two weeks' ago and following that up with another impressive ride on the tough Sayle Road climb.

Only former professional rider Elliot Hubbard looked likely to mount a challenge on Sunday on the same course on which he set a record for the in the late 1980s which still stands at 57 seconds.

However on this occasion, even Hubbard, making a welcome return to cycling after a number of years working for his law degree, couldn't match hill climb specialst Hatherely who powered his way to the fastest time of the day - 63.84 seconds - with Hubbard placing second with a time of 69.14 seconds.

Fast improving Aaron Place was timed in 70.70 to finish third.

With the overall series winner decided by the cumulative time over the three climbs, Hatherley won easily with a time of three minutes, 13.52 seconds.

Hubbard's total time was 3:30.77 and Aaron Place's 3:34.94.

Karen Bordage topped the women's Open category with a combined time of 4.09.15 for the three events.

Tyree Armstrong took honours on the Male 12 and over category in 4.42.24 and Sophie Adams the female 12 and over group in 6.16.07.

Brothers Daniel and Christian Oatley both performed strongly to take first and second places respectively in the boys' 12 and under category in 5.37.95 and 7.16.07.

The cycle racing season officially gets underway this Sunday at Southside, St.David's with the first road race of the year starting at 8.30 a.m. for all categories.

A large turn-out is be expected as riders are required to race three events in order to qualify to race for the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race on Heritage Day, one of the most coveted events on the calendar.