five-stage Killington Race -- his biggest event since moving to the US from France earlier this year.

Riding against strong headwinds and through rain showers, Hubbard placed 21st in the opening day's prologue, a 3.4 mile time trial over an uphill course.

He was timed in 11 minutes, 26.16 seconds, more than a minute behind leader Mike Englemann (10:08.34) who recently earned a place in the US team for this year's World Cycling Championships in Colombia.

However, only five riders ducked under 11 minutes and Hubbard, who also hopes to compete in Colombia, finds himself in the thick of the action with his best likely still to come.

Most of the racing throughout the five days will be over mountainous terrain on which the 21-year-old Bermudian thrives.

Competing in Vermont are some 170 riders, many of them professionals, including England's former world champion Malcolm Elliott who Hubbard trailed by just 19 seconds after Thursday's prologue.

Yesterday the field were scheduled to race in the second stage, the 111-mile Sun Rise road race over a mountainous 181 mile circuit.

Today's stage is the American Classic 108-mile road race and tomorrow the Pepsi 45-mile criterium.

The event winds up on Monday with the Saab 85-mile road race which will also be over a hilly course.

Hubbard, who aims to represent Bermuda at next year's Olympics, recently finished 24th overall at the Tour de Toona where he was the highest-placed amateur.

Bermuda's other leading cyclist, McInnis Looby reportedly failed to make the start line for the Killington event when his car broke down on the way to the race.

ELLIOT HUBBARD -- lying 21st in a strong field of 170 riders.