title she lifted so magnificently last year.

The Island's top female took a 33-second lead into the final stage last time out and rode a technically superb race to lift the trophy ahead of many top professional riders.

However with a field boosted by more overseas entrants this time around, Claude knows she will have her work cut out to repeat the feat.

"I think it's going to be a lot tougher this time,'' she said. "They have got more pro females coming down and these are some of the girls I have raced with before especially in the recent Canadian Grand Prix.

"If you look at the results a few of them are above me as opposed to below me so it's obviously going to be quite a challenge -- but then they always say being on your own home turf can make a difference.'' Taking nothing away from last year's victory, Claude said it would be a whole different ball game in 2000.

"I was riding very well last year -- not to say that I am not this year -- but I find that the calibre of female cyclists has increased a lot and I think the field we had last year was probably not as strong as the field we have got this year,'' she said.

Claude said having a couple of members of her French team racing alongside her could boost her chances.

"We haven't talked tactics yet but it may be that we can work something out where they can help to support me. But a lot will depend on how I'm riding compared to them -- I've not been with them for a while so I'm not quite sure where we are at at this particular point.'' Someone she can definitely rely on to help is fellow Bermudian, Julia Hawley.

"Julia is riding very strong. I know where she is at because we are on tour together so I know that between the two of us we can work quite well,'' she said.

Claude, who had a strong showing in the women's Tour De France recently, said she believed public expectation of her was high.

"I think there is pressure from the public's standpoint. Their expectation is "Oh yeah, Melanie can win it again''.

"But I think you really need to understand cycling and appreciate the field that we are dealing with. It's fine to win one year and then try to win the next, but a lot depends on who you are competing against,'' she said.

Claude's trump card could be her obvious knowledge of the streets of Bermuda.

"I think that anyone that can practice on the terrain where the race is at certainly has an advantage and I have raced on it many times,'' she said.

"I'm used to the terrain and the weather conditions so I'm hoping that will be in my favour.'' With the event just a few days away, Claude said she was pushing herself so she was in peak shape.

"I'm trying to do some hard sessions so that I can be in form for the event.

I will taper them a couple of days before,'' she said. "The first two events are not too long, so I think can afford to maintain my strong levels of cycling at this point.'' Casting her eye across the opposition, Claude said she expected Ann Samplonious to figure strongly at the end.

"She is riding for the national Canadian team and has been riding very well and has been up there with Lyn Besette who has gone to the Olympics,'' Claude said.

"She was riding in the Canadian Grand Prix and I think came seventh overall.

I would put her as probably the favourite to win just from what I have observed over the last month or so.'' Claude said the newly expanded women's event boded well for the future -- the only problem she anticipated was a lack of cash.

"I'm hoping that having an increased field this year will entice more to come next year.

"But of course there are other factors that one has to bear in mind, such as the cost of bringing a team down. So the more support we can get from the public and corporations the more people we can actually bring in,'' Claude said.

Girls on top: Julia Hawley, above, and Melanie Claude, above right.