Kaden Hopkins kicked off his 2025 season in Guadeloupe, joining a massive peloton of 139 riders at the start of the 35th edition of the 6 Days of Crédit Agricole. The first stage of the race covered just over 121 kilometers, setting the stage for a week of intense competition.
The opening stage, contested between Morne-à-l'Eau and Port-Louis, saw a thrilling finish, with Damien Urcel (Team Madras Capesterre Belle-Eau) claiming victory with a time of 3:02:16. Urcel triumphed in a two-man sprint, beating Kendric Clavier (Team CAMA CCD) to the line.
Urcel described the decisive moment: "With thirty kilometers to go, I broke away with Kendric Clavier. We got along well until the end. It came down to a sprint."
The pace of the first stage was incredibly high, with riders pushing hard throughout the afternoon in the challenging north wind conditions on Grande Terre. The wind was a constant factor, changing frequently and adding to the difficulty of the race.
Runner-up Kendric Clavier, while disappointed to miss out on the win, expressed satisfaction with his performance. He dedicated his race to the memory of Loïc Even, saying, "I wanted to offer this victory in memory of Loïc Even. We are going through a difficult time and my thoughts are with his family. It was hard to ride but it had to be done. I am still happy with my race. Second is scoring big points."
The sprint for third place in the peloton was won by Kevin Le Cunff, with Benjamin Le Ny also securing a strong finish.
The main peloton, which included Bermudian rider Kaden Hopkins, finished more than ten minutes behind the leaders, highlighting the breakaway's strength and the challenging conditions.
Hopkins finished 27th clocking a time of 3:13:39, 11 minutes and 23 seconds behind the winner.
The 6 Days of Crédit Agricole promises to be a demanding and exciting race. While Hopkins faced a tough start in the first stage, his participation in a large and competitive peloton provided valuable experience as he began his 2025 season.
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