A week-and-a-half after being released by his Italy-based team, top cyclist Elliot Hubbard has a new team in a new European country for the 1998 season.

In the offices of his local sponsors, law firm Conyers Dill and Pearman, where he was presented with his new team jersey yesterday from CD&P partner Alec Anderson and general manager John Buckley, Hubbard disclosed that he would be joining Belgium's Cedico within the next few days.

The team, comprising of 12 riders -- slightly smaller than Hubbard's previous team, AKI-Safi -- is based in the southern part of Belgium in a village called Charleroi. They will spend a large part of the season racing in France.

"I don't have the programme as of yet but I'm told that will be the team's main focus, although they will also be racing in Belgium, Spain, possibly Switzerland and Germany as well,'' said Hubbard, who heads to Belgium on Saturday.

"I know we will be competing in a number of Belgium classics and being that it is a Belgian team I know that they do intend to perform well.

"Racing in France, we would want to put on a good show to promote the French bicycles that we will be riding.'' After a period of uncertainty over the Christmas holiday when a number of Italian teams reduced the size of their rosters, Hubbard was first assured he still had a place in the Aki-Safi team. But he was contacted about 10 days ago to be told that two more riders were being axed and that he was one of them.

He quickly put out feelers in Europe and the United States and heard on the weekend that Cedico were prepared to offer him a contract. They will be his second team as a professional.

"It's been about a week in the making that I've had contacts out in Europe and in the United States as well just to cover all possibilities,'' said Hubbard who explained that a couple of teams on the east coast of the US had shown an interest.

However, it was always his desire to return to Europe, the mecca of professional cycling.

"The European offers were few and far between,'' he admitted.

"Most of the European teams, at this point, are already made up and completed. Not only that but with teams folding last season there are a lot of riders still without teams so it has been very competitive this season.

"I did have an offer from the States which I was considering because, at all costs, I wanted to race this season. I felt I still had more to offer to the sport.'' Hubbard added: "I still want to race at least up until the next Olympics so there was never a point where I felt my career was in jeopardy.'' Hubbard is familiar with his new team, having raced with them before. Still, Belgium will provide him with a new challenge and he is looking forward to signing a contract upon his arrival.

"I believe I have a one-year contract to start with but if I can sign for two then that would be something I would consider,'' said the top cyclist.

"I don't know any of the riders personally but I've heard a few of them mentioned in the results before.

"I know it's a fairly small team but it's well organised. Cedico, the main sponsor, is a supermarket chain. Racing will commence on February 11 and if my form is where it needs to be then I'm hoping to compete in a Tour of the Mediterranean, February 11 to 18, I think.'' Hubbard isn't likely to have time to return for the Bermuda Grand Prix later in the year as he concentrates his efforts on establishing himself with his new team, as well as preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in September.

"Last year was a tough year for me making the adjustment,'' he acknowledged.

"I feel now with the added experience that I can possibly have more to offer as a team-mate. I'm not of team leader status at this point but that's something I'm working towards and hopefully this will take me one step closer to that goal.'' As well as support from his sponsors, Hubbard will also receive assistance from Government's Elite Athletes Fund.

Cycling coach and good friend Greg Hopkins was delighted to hear of Hubbard's success in securing a new team.

"Certainly it's a benefit for Bermuda when it comes to international competition although of course the major competitions are the only ones Elliot will probably be released for,'' said Hopkins, who was also present yesterday along with Hubbard's parents.

"We're looking for our international riders to enhance our team performance which is what we're building towards. Elliot going to Europe is not only a fantastic thing for cycling but also for Bermuda.

"Many people won't realise that he is at the absolute top of the sport. There is nowhere else to go and we're very happy that he managed to get back to Europe.'' BELGIUM-BOUND -- Bermuda's top cyclist Elliot Hubbard returns to Europe this weekend to continue his pro career with a new team in Belgium.