A month before the start of the European cycling season, Elliot Hubbard is without a team.

Bermuda's first -- and only -- professional rider was ditched by his Italian-based team, AKI-Safi, on Sunday after another overhaul of the club's roster.

Hubbard, who went through a period of uncertainty during the Christmas holidays after the team lost a key sponsor, was scheduled to depart for Italy and his second season on the tour yesterday.

However, his coach and good friend Greg Hopkins said Hubbard now planned to remain in Bermuda until he had secured a new contract elsewhere.

Attempts to reach Hubbard yesterday were unsuccessful and Hopkins said the 24-year-old rider did not wish to comment on the latest development.

Hubbard lost his current position on AKI after one of the team's new sponsors insisted on the signing of two other riders, forcing the team to release two of its current cyclists, one being Hubbard.

"Until he was contacted on Sunday, he believed his position was secure,'' said Hopkins.

Despite this setback, Hopkins said Hubbard "remains optimistic about his future,'' having already been in contact with a number of European and US-based teams.

And despite the poor financial climate affecting the sport worldwide, he hopes to finalise a new contract within the next two weeks.

Hubbard has previously said he would prefer to return to Europe, the mecca of cycling, although he did not discount a move to a US professional squad.

"He is presently considering all his options,'' said Hopkins.

In the meantime, Hubbard is one of 21 riders who have accepted invitations and begun training with the Island's first National Cycling Squad.

The squad, preparing for several competitions this year, held its first meeting and training session last week. It will feature a mixture of youth -- Tyler Butterfield and Kris Hedges -- and experience -- Hubbard, MacInnis Looby and Steve Sterritt.

Hopkins, who will coach the team and will administer it along with director Jeff Payne and manager Vance Stevens, said the young riders in particular would benefit from the squad's formation.

"It is early and we hope to reap the rewards of having a structured, organised programme in the next couple of years by keeping our juniors in the sport,'' said Hopkins, who began his first term as president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association at the end of 1997.

Cyclists from the squad will be selected to take part in several competitions, beginning with the Conyers, Dill and Pearman Grand Prix in May. A team will also be entered in the Mini-Nations Championship in June and possibly the CAC Games in August.

It is not expected that a full team will travel with Hubbard to Malaysia for the Commonwealth Games, Hopkins said, although the national programme would better prepare Island cyclists for such major competitions in the future.

The squad is: Category II riders: Carlos DeSilva, Greg Hopkins, Elliot Hubbard, Jason Krupp, Mike Lee, Mel Bennett, Ian Lilley, MacInnis Looby, Tim Palmer, Jeff Payne, Rodney Smith, Sinclair Packwood, Kevin Topple, Damion Wilson, Steve Sterritt.

Women: Melanie Claude, Shona Palmer.

Juniors: Tyler Butterfield, Nuri Lathan, Jonathon Herring, Kris Hedges.

ELLIOT HUBBARD -- searching for a new team before the new cycling season begins.