Kaden Hopkins Gears Up For Cycling Worlds
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Kaden Hopkins is set to make his elite debut at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The 24-year-old, who previously raced in the under-23 category, will compete in the elite men’s time-trial on Sunday [September 22] and the road race the following weekend.
Also representing Bermuda will be Conor White in the elite men’s time-trial and Nicholas Narraway in the men’s under-23 time-trial on Monday and the under-23 road race later in the week.
Hopkins earned his place in the elite road race thanks to his UCI rider ranking of 343, having accumulated 272 points this season while racing for the French professional team Vendée U.
“You can’t find any competition higher than the elite level at the world championships,” said Hopkins, who headed to Zurich yesterday after a training stint in Spain.
“I have objectives in the time-trial, but they are more data-led objectives rather than an actual result.
“I know what performances I can deliver based on my training over the past few months.
“I’ll have an objective in terms of my average speed and things like that.”
As for the 273.9-kilometre road race, Hopkins acknowledged the monumental task ahead.
“If I can finish the road race, it will be a huge achievement,” he said. “It will be by far the longest race I’ve ever done.”
Hopkins heads to the world championships in fine form after producing the biggest performance of his career to claim the green jersey at the recent Tour of Guadeloupe, winning the final and third stages.
It was the first time he finished top of the standings in any major tour.
“I have a ton of volume in my legs from the Tour of Guadeloupe and had a good recovery and specific training for the world championships,” said Hopkins, who also won two stages last year.
“It’s been a tough season marred by crashes and sickness. I felt like I was in a three or four-month spell of one issue after another.
“I’ve managed to find some good rhythm of training and to go to Guadeloupe, win stages and the green jersey was a huge accomplishment. My career was missing that big international victory.
“Like most sports, cycling is as much mental as physical. Achieving some good results and being in decent form gives you a huge mental boost.”
