More than 100 cyclists from as far away as California descended on the ninth annual Tour of the Bahamas - the nation's premier cycling event - this weekend in Nassau.

Local and foreign competitors competed for up to $16,000 in cash prizes and awards.

Sports director Tim Munnings said the Tour of the Bahamas is "one of the most important events on the sports calendar."

For the first time, a non-competitive Family Fun Ride was also held in conjunction with the competitive pro, master and junior tour races.

Hosted by the JAR Cycling Club, Tour of the Bahamas is sponsored by BOB, Mahogany House, Scottdale Bedding, BTC, The Windshield House, National Fence Company, Cycles Unlimited, Atlantis and the Ministries of Tourism and Youth, Sports and Culture.

The event featured a three-mile individual time trial followed by a 42-mile circuit -seven laps of a six-mile course - set for 8am today with the 76-mile race set for 8am Tuesday.

Juniors will race a 30-mile course.

Professional and development racing teams in this year's event included BMC Hincapie Development Team, No Tubes AXA, Jamis Sutter, FloridaVelo Elite and Masters, ASV and Texas Road House.

Each of the three divisions, including men, women and juniors, will compete in various categories.

The top men's prize in category one and two will receive $10,000, while the category three top finisher will win $1,000.

The category four and five winner will receive a $500 prize, the masters 40-plus winner, $2,000, and masters 50-plus winner will receive $1,000.

Juniors will receive trophies for the top four finishers. Women in category four will receive $200 while the top finisher in categories one, two and three will receive $1,000.

Event organiser and JAR member John Cox expects the event to bring a level of star power as it has done in the past.

"The thing that tourism can capitalise on is that when a team comes, they come with their trainers, their doctor and their crew. Every year that we do the tour we are hoping that we can extend it. We call it the Tour of the Bahamas because we hope that at some point we can expand and go to the different islands. We are excited that more visitors can come in and they can have a more Bahamian cultural experience."

"We aim to have repeat riders coming back. When the currency of your event develops it becomes a platform for people to want to come down and do well. Two years ago we had Tyler Farrar, who is a member of the Garmin training team and a major competitor in the Tour de France, he won the Tour of the Bahamas. So, when you mention the name throughout the region, different countries know of the event so that is one of the things that is developing."