Hopkins Gets New Contract With Spanish Team
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Kaden Hopkins believes his innate willingness to put the team before himself convinced Spanish cycling outfit Equipo Essax to hand him a new one-year contract.
Hopkins, who returns to Alicante next month for pre-season training, admits his first campaign with the Spanish Sax Cycling Club’s elite under-23 team was a baptism of fire after initially struggling to adjust to the demands of the European circuit.
Rather than dwell on disappointments and DNFs, Hopkins embraced his selfless attitude and fully committed to his role and responsibilities within the group, which did not go unnoticed by team director Joachim Gil.
“It was a steep learning experience,” Hopkins told Bernews. “I knew it was going to be difficult, but it blew my mind.
“I went into the first race, and obviously, I wasn’t expected to win or anything like that, but I was definitely hoping to finish, and I didn’t even do that.
“Even when I wasn’t getting results, I was always doing what was asked for me.
“If they needed me to sit on the front, or follow attacks, or go back and get food and water for the leaders, I was always up for it. I think that’s what impressed them the most.
“There were a lot of guys who were finishing races but were racing selfishly, and they haven’t been offered a spot for next year.”
Hopkins, who finished the year strongly, winning the silver medal in the time-trial at the Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, insists he is mentally and physically better prepared to cope with the inevitable challenges he will face next season.
Once again, the prestigious Spanish Cup, which runs from February until May, will be his team’s top priority, while Hopkins could also have opportunities to race in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal.
“I’m even more motivated after winning that medal and have a lot more experience and knowledge; I should have a better season, said Hopkins, who competes in the Presidents Cup Road Race in Bermuda on Sunday.
“I’m also much lighter in terms of body weight which will help my climbing, and I’m producing good numbers in training.
“At first, the hardest thing was the language barrier, as I only had very basic Spanish. It was hard to build a relationship with teammates when we didn’t have a way of communicating with each other. That was a big adjustment.
“However, there’s nothing I look back on and think, I didn’t enjoy that.”
The 21-year-old has decided to again put on hold his education at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. It is among several sacrifices Hopkins has made pursuing his professional ambitions.
“[College] is something I’ve decided I’ll finish when I’m done with cycling,” Hopkins said. “It wouldn’t be productive for me to be in school as well. I know I would be struggling with the workload on top of the training, racing and travelling.
“There was a point when cycling wasn’t my main priority, and I enjoyed going out with friends, but I’m at a stage when I know I’m fully committed to this sport and fully committed to trying to make it as a professional.
“It doesn’t matter what my friends are doing or what other people are doing; it’s not going to be beneficial to me. I know I have to train and eat properly.”
It promises to be a busy year for Hopkins, who already has the Vuelta Independencia, the UCI Road World Championships, the Pan American Championships, the Caribbean Championships, and the National Championships added to his race calendar.
He also hopes to represent Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer in his first appearance at a major multi-sport event, having already met two of the three qualifying standards.
“I should be able to qualify, and then, hopefully, I’ll be placed on the list for the Games,” he said.
“If that happens, the Games would be a massive goal for me. It’s a huge event internationally, and if I’m given the opportunity, it will be one of my main goals for the season.”
