as Bermuda's top sprinter as he powered his way to victory in Bermuda Bicycle Association's 30-mile road race at the US Naval Base.

Sunday's race marked the last opportunity for local riders to test each other out before the association's major event of the year -- the three-day, four-event Bermuda Grand Prix which will be held between May 5-7 and will feature a number of international riders.

Packwood sent a clear warning that if he's on the finishing straight with the leaders in any race then he's the man to beat.

The 25-lap, 30-mile race got off to a furious start from the gun and the pace didn't ease up for five laps, by which time some of the starters had already lost contact with the lead pack.

As the pace began to settle down Kevin Topple took the opportunity to break away but was kept in sight by the main group of riders. He was then joined by Mike Lee but their freedom was short-lived as all the riders soon regrouped.

It was then the turn of ever-improving Jason Krupp who forced a temporary alliance with Lee. The two accomplished time triallists worked well together and managed seven laps of freedom before they too were reeled in.

As the race progressed it became clear that it would become a tactical battle, which would ultimately suit Packwood. However, with one lap to go, Tim Palmer, who had remained fairly quiet throughout the race following a tough time trial in the Gatorade team triathlon the day before, burst ahead of the field with about half a mile left.

Palmer managed to open up a gap in his almost suicidal attempt to win the race.

But it was Packwood, clearly in his best shape for some years, who chased him down. On the uphill finish it looked as though Palmer might pull out a surprise win, but with one last-ditch effort Packwood threw himself forward and edged out his rival by half a wheel length.

Frenchman Stephan Carpentier nipped ahead of Dana Henry in an even closer finish for third place. Lee, Paul Shrubb and Chris Walker were the other finishers in the lead pack.

In the junior two category, Duncan Simons notched up another win over his arch-rival Kris Hedges as the two continued their season-long battle for honours. Jonathan Herring was third.

In a small veterans field Louis Muso was a clear winner over Martin Bolton and a luckless Richard Mason who suffered two flat tyres.

Melanie Claude was victorious in the women's division with Margaret Hateley second. John DeSilva was the first novice, ahead of newcomer Aaron Schindler and Matthew Herring beat Mark Morrison in the junior three race.

Two weeks of training will now lead up to the Grand Prix which will feature an exciting criterium race on Front Street on Friday night, followed by a time trial on the following morning and another criterium on the Saturday afternoon.

Finally, the event will be decided by a 75-mile road race. All Saturday and Sunday races take place at the Naval Base in St. David's.

SINCLAIR PACKWOOD -- nipped Tim Palmer by half a wheel length to win Sunday's 30 mile road race.