Hopkins Finishes 11th In Dominican Republic
Kaden Hopkins was recently back in action competing in Stage Four of the National Independence Cyclistic Vuelta 2021.
A day after riding to victory, Hopkins covered the 120km fourth stage distance in a time of 3:00.57, crossing the line in eleventh place.
Hopkins finished 5 minutes and 53 seconds behind stage winner Klesmas Yurgen Ramirez.
The defending champion finished second in the Under 23 Division Stage, remaining in second place overall in the division; the gap in the division was increased to 2 minutes and 5 seconds by leader Omar Antonio Ruiz Peralta.
Hopkins fell to tenth place overall with a time of 14:07.39. Klesmas Yurgen Ramirez is the overall leader with a time of 13:58.19.
Ramirez leads with 55 points, with Hopkins in second with 53 and Julio Padilla Miranda in third with 45 points.
The Bermuda-Puerto Rico team fell to tenth place with an overall time of 42:38.45.
Hopkins said, “Five kilometres into the stage, there was a really steep, short climb and one of the local teams split the field. I, along with my teammate Julian Molina, was able to make the split of about 15 riders. The break managed to put 2:30 between us and the peloton before we hit the base of the climb.
“The Venezuelan team set a relentless pace right from the base of the climb and blew the break apart almost instantly. Once I was isolated I settled into my own rhythm until the finish 15 kilometres later.”
