Bermuda could be the beneficiary of a big change to the World Cup professional triathlon circuit next year -- assuming, of course, that the International Triathlon Union returns to the Island for a fourth straight summer.

While officials here remain confident that the event, the 1997 version of which was won by Emma Carney and Philippe Fattori on Sunday, will be back in Hamilton, ITU managing director Mike Gilmore was non-committal.

"We don't know yet,'' Gilmore said on Sunday.

If it does -- and there is every indication that it will -- Bermuda is being looked at as the site for what is tentatively being called the World Cup Final, an end-of-season championship that will feature three times as much prize money and all of the world's top competitors.

Preliminary talks have already been held with the Ministry of Tourism in the hopes of incorporating the final as early as next fall, Gilmore confirmed.

"It's just an idea but it's an idea that intrigues us a lot,'' he said.

Predictably, the final, like the regular World Cup stop, comes down to money.

Gilmore said this year's Bermuda event failed to break even and after three years of losses, more and greater sponsorship was needed.

The ITU have lost $1.5 million in their eight years of operation, including, sources say, $75,000 from Sunday's event alone. Of course, these losses are not totally unexpected; it's just part of ensuring triathlon's continued growth, Gilmore said.

"We're not in the business to make money,'' said Gilmore. "But like any business, if you continue to lose money you can't go on.'' This year's budget was close to $250,000, including $85,000 in prize money.

Ace Insurance were the presenting sponsors with Bermuda Commercial Bank and the Department of Tourism also contributing.

In order to stage a World Cup Final -- with a first prize alone of $50,000 -- the budget would have to double "at a minimum,'' said Gilmore. Asked about the possibility of charging admission, Gilmore said "we'd rather not. It's a sport for the people and we'd like it to remain that way.'' The ITU were looking at other cities until arriving in Bermuda last week.

That, Gilmore said, reminded the ITU how much they -- and the athletes -- enjoy coming here.

But Bermuda is no longer a shoo-in for professional triathlon. Five of next year's ten World Cup stops have already been selected, picked from the 25 applications the ITU have received from around the globe.

"Three years ago, we were literally begging (for a host),'' Gilmore said.

The fact that triathlon -- a sport that is really only 25 years old -- has been accepted into the Olympic Games has added to its popularity, although it still lags well behind in the marketing/media goldmine of the US.

"That'll change after us Yanks get our butts kicked in Sydney,'' Gilmore laughed.

The World Cup Final would be similar to other sports, which have a regular season, often followed by a play-off, before a final between top competitors.

In triathlon's case, it would be the "creme de la creme,'' with athletes who would ordinarily consider skipping Bermuda coming because of better scheduling and more lucrative prize money, Gilmore said.

Many of the triathletes who competed on the weekend would not have even qualified, he added. The women's race on Sunday lacked eight of the top 20 while in the men's race, only six of the top 20 competed.

If the event does return, so too will the altered course, highlighted by the addition of a climb up Corkscrew Hill. It met with widespread approval by athletes, in contrast to last year's flatter, more boring track.

A good indication of the difference is a comparison of times. Last year, Carney won in one hour, 49 minutes and 34 seconds; this year, she blew away the competition with a clocking of 2:03.54. Dimitry Gaag won the men's event in 1:39.42 a year ago; Fattori won on Sunday in 1:55.25.

SIGNING ON -- Emma Carney got a tougher workout signing autographs on Sunday than she did blowing out the competition in the ITU World Cup Triathlon. Talks are now underway to bring the event back.