announcing his signing with elite US team, Snow Valley.

Hedges' move is a timely one following Elliot Hubbard's decision to retire from the professional racing ranks last month.

The Islander, just 20, joins the highly rated Washington-based team that dominated the region's racing scene this year.

The current National Road Race Champion, Hedges attends John Hopkins University in Baltimore and will join Snow Valley as a Category One racer -- one step down from the professional ranks.

Though he won't be paid for his services, he will get all the trappings a top team has to offer in terms of equipment and facilities and will race against the professionals for the top prize money.

Speaking from the US, Hedges said yesterday: "They were looking for a rider and it was brought to my attention. I spoke to Archie McKown (team manager) about it and they just picked me up straight off the bat.'' Hedges has had another busy season this year, riding for the Richard Sachs team in the States as well as representing his University in Collegiate competitions.

He also turned out for the local Winners Edge team when he came back to the Island and took the prestigious Sinclair Packwood Memorial Trophy on Heritage Day.

This deal, however, represents his biggest test to date.

"It's a big change of roles. I'll be turning 21 in January and I think the next youngest rider will be 24 or 25, so I'll be very much playing a supporting role,'' said the rider who has represented Bermuda at the World B Championships, the CAC Games in Venezuela and was a member of the Commonwealth Games team in Malaysia in 1998.

"It's going to be a big challenge but I think it's going to work well for the future. I'd been looking to go Cat One this year and with Snow Valley it's pretty much an ideal opportunity.'' Asked whether he could live up to the standard laid down over the years by friend Hubbard he said: "I've been doing a lot of the same calibre races that he has been doing in the States and have raced against him a couple of times this year.

"He did set a very high precedent, and it's one that I'd like to follow. The only difference is that I am at college and am trying to get a degree so I don't quite have the time that Elliot had.'' Team manager McKown said Hedges' cycling career had got off to a fast start and he was looking forward to him helping the team continue to dominate the region, while representing them well in national events.

Bermuda's national cycling coach, Greg Hopkins, was full of praise for a rider with whom he has worked since his junior days.

"Kris is the most hard working, dedicated and determined rider I have ever met,'' he said.

"He will be an asset to Snow Valley and as a result of riding with them it will benefit Bermuda at the highest level of cycling.'' Kris Hedges: snapped up by Washington-based Snow Valley.