Geri Mewett became the second Bermuda cyclist in two months to turn semi-professional when he signed for new US pro outfit Team De Feet.

Mewett followed hard on the heels of Kris Hedges, who was recruited by the Snow Valley team in December.

The step up in status is another landmark in Mewett's remarkable sporting career, which included an appearance in the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 as a swimmer.

And the rise of Hedges and Mewett has come as a timely double boost to Bermuda cycling in the wake of the retirement of Elliot Hubbard from the Navigators team three months ago.

Mewett, the son of May 24 Marathon Derby record holder Sandra Mewett, was racing for Atlanta-based De Feet as an amateur last year and the team's rise to tier three pro team will open doors to some of the biggest events on the US cycling calendar for the Island rider.

At training camp in Gainesville, Florida, this week, Mewett will be getting to know some of his new team-mates, including Italian Roberto Gagglioli, who enjoys a reputation as a top rider on the US circuit.

Before he went to the camp, Mewett told national cycling coach Greg Hopkins he was looking foward to a busy 2001.

"Our team director is the former Motorola professional, Rabeshia Cubric,'' said Mewett. "He expects us to start the season racing in the California US pro tour events and especially the Sea Otter Classic and Redlands Classic.

"There is a lot of racing on the west coast in the early season. We are planning to race in Europe for two weeks and then in May we will do the Americas Cup events in Massachusetts followed by the US Pro Championship event in Philadelphia.'' Mewett said he was excited about the prospect of racing in a team including eight professionals, two of them Yugoslavs and two Italians.

But the new team's tight budget will leave Mewett facing the same predicament that has plagued him throughout his budding cycling career.

"It's going to be tough again this year financially,'' said Mewett. "Our equipment is provided and we will be reimbursed for expenses to a degree, but I have my work cut out for me this year to make the commitments.

"It will mean a lot of sacrifice but I am prepared to make it to the top level and represent Bermuda.'' Some of that sacrifice involves working late, occasionally into the early hours of the morning and then getting up to train.

Hopkins sympathised: "I know how much he struggles to make it financially in a sport that is traditionally a poor payer unless you are at the very top level. Geri works late nights in a bar to earn the money to race.

"That's not ideal, by any means, but he is very determined to make it. With the right breaks I have no doubt he will.'' Having Mewett and Hedges competing with pro teams in top events would help to raise the standard of the national cycling team, said Hopkins.

"Geri has tremendous potential,'' said the coach. "He is a very powerful rider and has the mental strength it takes to ride at the top level as he showed on a number of occasions last year.

"He is a tremendous asset to the Bermuda team. He showed by swimming at the Olympics that he has the ability to compete at the top level of sport.'' One of Mewett's most impressive results last year came in the Atlanta Classic, when he finished second to Navigators' top sprinter Todd Littlehales.

Geri Mewett: Will ride as a semi-pro with the American cycling outfit Team De Feet.