Kaden Hopkins Wins Stage 3 In Competition
Kaden Hopkins had a remarkable performance during Stage Three of the National Independence Cyclistic Vuelta 2021.
A day after he was literally caught on the line, finishing third, Hopkins rode to victory, covering the 161.6km distance in a time of 3:30.45.
The cyclist finished eight seconds ahead of second place finisher Robert Sierra, with Julio Padilla Miranda finishing in third with a time of 3:30.53.
Hopkins – the Under 23 Division Defending Champion – won the Under 23 Division Stage, remaining in second place overall in the division. He has closed the gap on division leader Manuel Steven Polanco Elena to 2 minutes and 5 seconds.
Hopkins remains in eighth place overall with a time of 11:06.42, while Padilla Miranda is the overall leader with a time of 11:03.20; Hopkins is now the overall leader in points with 48, while Padilla Miranda is in second with 45 points, and Sierra is third with 40 points.
The Bermuda-Puerto Rico team remains in seventh place overall with a time of 33:23.47.
Following the race, Hopkins said, “Seven kilometres into the stage, a break of two riders went up the road. When the race sat up for a second, I was able to open a gap quickly and bridge across. Once across, I drove the break as hard as I could, distancing one of the other riders after 75km; after 80km at the top of the day’s climb the other rider dropped off and I was left alone for the last 80km.
“I just thought of it as a time trial and sat at what I knew I could do for the next hour and 40 minutes and was able to keep the gap at a point where I knew I would not be caught.
“I have made up half the time I needed to in the Grand Championship competition and am hoping to try and chip away at it more over the next few stages if possible.”
