against each other for top honours when the Island's triathlon season opens on Sunday with the National Junior Duathlon Championships.

In what looks set to be one of the most competitive age categories, the 14-year-old boys, Brian Steinhoff, Mark Morrison, Chris Conway and Nick Taylor all appear capable of winning the title.

All have been on training programmes which started in December to prepare for the run-cycle-run format event.

Southside, St David's, will host the season's opening event, starting at 8.00 a.m.

The junior championship for athletes aged seven to 15 is expected to attract a large field, including the 61 members of the Tri Hedz Junior Triathlon Club.

Boys to watch include Chayce Smith, firm favourite in the 11-year-old boys and Adam Petty and Matthew Herring, set for an interesting duel in the 12-year-old category.

Outstanding competitors on the girls' side include Ashley Robinson-Roberts, 14, and exciting prospect Flora Duffy, 11, who already has a long list of titles to her name.

Robyn Dickinson, Ashley Kirkpatrick and Melissa DeSilva will be battling for the 13-year-olds' title, while Chloe Kempe and Chelsea Burns are the 12-year-old top challengers.

In the younger categories, Tim Fox, eight, and Ricky Sousa, nine, have shown the ability to compete with boys three years older and a close race is expected between them.

Others to watch in the nine and ten age groups include Andrew Nichol, Brett Fox, Raishun Burch, Matthew Godfrey, Lianna Lambert, Alex Easton and Emily Rowe.

The championships are open to teams of one cyclist and one runner, as well as individual competitors.

Entry forms are available at local sports and cycle shops, and today at 5.00 p.m. is the entry deadline.

Four of Bermuda's road race cyclists are heading for Europe early next week to experience the Spring Classics.

Vance Stevens, Mike Lee, Damion Wilson and Joey Richardson will get the opportunity to ride the three courses of the Tour of Flanders, the Ghent Wevelgem and the Paris-Roubaix.

But Stevens says it is more of a vacation than anything else although he hopes to be able to mix with the pros and teams involved in the races as well as top figures in the cycling world.

"We hope to be able to come back with a little more experience, though really it will just be the thrill of actually being there instead of just watching it on TV,'' said Stevens.

"We'll also be on the team cars so we'll hope to get some insider information.'' All the races are one-stage events of a minimum of 100 miles.