Hubbard, who turns 23 tomorrow, got an early birthday present this week when he was offered a professional cycling contract with one of Italy's top teams.

And his good friend and training partner Greg Hopkins yesterday confirmed that the Island rider had agreed to the contract with the Monaco-based AKI-Gipiemme team and will likely sign this week.

With the deal, Hubbard becomes Bermuda's first professional cyclist -- and one of the few professional athletes the Island has ever produced.

Moreover, he is joining a team that is one of the most prominent in its field, competing in major World Cup races, not to mention the Tour of Italy, Tour of Spain and, the ultimate, the Tour de France.

Financial terms were not available yesterday.

"This is almost unbelievable,'' said Hopkins. "I mean, you just can't go any higher than this.'' Hubbard joins an 18-man team and will count as his team-mates Russian Dimitri Konyshev, who was 13th at the Olympic Games in Atlanta and is currently competing in the the Tour of Spain, and Poland's Zenon Jaskula, who was third in the Tour de France in 1993.

Hubbard, winding up the season with his Baltimore-based One Plus team, was not available for comment yesterday. But he is expected to move to Europe later this year and take up cross-country skiing as part of his off-season training regimen.

In the meantime Hopkins said he has arranged for Hubbard to go to Colorado Springs next month to train with Nick Radkewich of the US Olympic triathlon team.

Hubbard, of course, is not expected to take on a starring role with the AKI-Gipiemme team in 1997. Traditionally, young riders are brought along slowly, taking on supporting roles for team leaders such as Konyshev.

The contract was secured through Hubbard's first coach, Michelle Ducas, who discovered him while vacationing here six years ago and arranged for the then 17-year-old to compete for an Italian junior team. The two have continued to work together.

Hubbard and the One Plus team competed in Italy earlier this summer, shortly after he won the Bermuda Grand Prix. But Hopkins figured it was the Olympics and Hubbard's climbing strength that clinched the offer.

Despite the fact he crashed on the fifth lap of the 175-kilometre Games road race, Hubbard had shown plenty, leading the likes of Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong at the time of the spill.

"That sort of thing wouldn't go unnoticed,'' said Hopkins.

Hubbard's mother, Rosalyn, said yesterday the family had "an inkling'' something was up before the contract was offered "a couple of days ago.'' "We're all really thrilled. I'm just speechless,'' she said.

Also delighted are Hubbard's sponsor of the past two years, law firm, Conyers, Dill and Pearman, who have handled all his training and travelling expenses.

ELLIOT HUBBARD -- pedalling his way into cycling's big time.