Bermuda is to send a team to the 2001 World B Cycling Championships in China, national coach Greg Hopkins confirmed yesterday.

The five-day event will represent something of a trip into the unknown for the team of four or five men and two women, who will travel in June to the host city of Qinhuangdao, around 200 miles east of Beijing.

And even though they will be missing two of the country's best -- recently retired pro Elliot Hubbard and rising star Tyler Butterfield -- Hopkins believed they would be capable of challenging for medals.

"I don't like to make predictions and put pressure on cyclists,'' said Hopkins, "but I would be satisfied if we were in contention for a medal. I would be disappointed if we were not.'' At the last World Bs, a year and a half ago in Uruguay, Melanie Claude won a bronze medal in the women's time trial and became the first Bermudian woman to win a cycling medal at a major championships.

And the team also proved competitive in both the men's and women's road races.

Bermuda's women, Julia Hawley and Claude, and the men, Geri Mewett and Steve Millington, were all given the same time as the winners of their respective races, but missed out on top seven placings which would have earned the Island a berth at the Sydney Olympics in cycling.

"The World Bs is a competition which suits our abilities,'' said Hopkins.

"It's for those outside the top 30 countries in the UCI (cycling's world governing body) rankings, and it gives everybody a chance.'' The team has not yet been finalised but under consideration for the women's team are Claude and Hawley and for the men, Mewett, Millington, Kris Hedges, MacInnis Looby, Wayne Scott and Karl Outerbridge.

Any additional riders who show exceptional good form in the local season, which started on Sunday, will also be considered for selection, added Hopkins.

Of the men, only Millington and Outerbridge are racing on the local scene, while the other four contenders are based in the US.

"Wayne, MacInnis, Kris and Geri are riding at a higher level of racing in the US,'' said Hopkins. "Whilst we can bring riders up to a certain level in Bermuda, they need to go away and be exposed to better competition to get to the next level.

"Kris and Geri are in semi-pro teams and riding in category one. MacInnis and Wayne are riding category two. While it's great to have them racing over there at a high level, it's a double-edged sword for us, because it makes it difficult for locally based riders to break into the team. That gives us a problem when selecting, but in many ways, it's a nice problem to have.'' Millington planned to race with Hedges in the US before June, to help bring up his standard, added the coach.

The absence of outstanding talents Hubbard and Butterfield has left Hopkins with the frustration of knowing he could have been taking a stronger team to China.

Last year, Hubbard retired from professional cycling with New Jersey-based team Navigators and has started a new career with Conyers, Dill and Pearman.

Hubbard turned down Hopkins' Chinese invitation.

Teenager Butterfield, who enjoyed an impressive debut at the Junior World Cycling Championships in France last year, is now at school in Australia.

"I'm in daily contact with Elliot and he's enjoying a break from cycling,'' said Hopkins. "He put 110 percent into his cycling and I'm sure he's doing the same with his new career with CD&P. He's been finding it taxing and he's not been doing much training at all.

"In Tyler's case his school curriculum simply does not allow him to make that trip. I am hopeful that one day we will have all of our top riders in the team together and then we will really be a force to be reckoned with at this level.'' Continued on page 21 Cyclists face China mission Continued from page 19 Although the championships do not take place until June 19-23, the cyclists, coach Hopkins and team manager Jennifer Hedges have begun their preparations early for the trip.

Vaccinations are necessary -- Hopkins himself has already had jabs for protection from hepatitus A, typhoid and tetanus -- and paperwork, particularly for visas, needs to be sorted out well in advance.

The Bermuda Bicycle Association delegation will fly to Beijing via London and then take a train to Qinhuangdao. Information about the course had been difficult to come by, said Hopkins.

"In Uruguay, we had a very flat course which was not conducive to the race breaking up,'' said Hopkins. "Qinhuangdao is situated in a mountainous region, so I expect there will be at least some of the hills that were unfortunately missing in Uruguay.'' Hopkins estimated the cost of the trip at more than $20,000, with the cash being generated by the BBA's own fundraising activities and through sponsors.

Likely lad: Steve Millington, who finished in the leading pack at the last World Bs in Uruguay and looks likely to compete in China.