Hopkins Finishes Third In Dominican Republic
Kaden Hopkins recently continued competing in the National Independence Cyclistic Vuelta 2021, with Stage Two seeing competitors race over a 180 kilometer distance.
Hopkins decided to make a move with just 2K to go, going for a solo break while the sprinters’ teams were forming their plans.
Hopkins was literally caught on the line, finishing third in a time of 4:08:50, which was also the time of stage winner Jonatan Ogando Reynoso and second place finisher Robert Sierra.
Hopkins – the Under 23 Division Defending Champion – won the Under 23 Division Stage, moving up to second place overall in the division; he is 3 minutes and 35 seconds behind leader Manuel Steven Polanco Elena, who finished 26th overall in a time of 7:32.37.
Hopkins is eighth overall with a two stage time of 7:36.12; he is 3:45 behind the overall leader Geovanny Garcia, who has a time of 7:32.27.
Hopkins is holding down the 4th spot in General Points Standings with 23, with Garcia leading with 31.
Hopkins and his Bermuda-Puerto Rico teammates are now in seventh place overall as a team with an overall time of 22:49.02.
Hopkins said, “I felt strong today throughout the stage. Yesterday was very hard, so I spent most of the day trying to rest the legs as much as possible.
“When the day’s early break got pulled back with 10km to go, I realized a stage win was possible. With 5km to go, the sprinters were all in position and I knew I wouldn’t be able to match them, so I decided to attack with just over 2km to the finish.
“I opened up a couple of hundred meters, but the speed of the peloton was so fast that I was caught in the final meters by the sprinters that were leading the bunch.
“I feel I am in good form and will look to take back time in the coming days if possible.”
