Hopkins Finishes 3rd in Stage Two in Dominican Republic
Hopkins & his Teammates Stage 2
IslandStats.com
Kaden Hopkins continued competing in the National Independence Cyclistic Vuelta 2021, Stage Two saw the competitors race over a 180-kilometer distance.
Hopkins decided to make a move with just 2K to go, he went for a solo break while the sprinter's teams were forming their plans.
Unfortunately, Hopkins was literally caught on the line, finishing third in a time of 4:08:50, which was also the time of the Stage winner Jonatan Ogando Reynoso, and second-place finisher Robert Sierra.
Hopkins the Under 23 Division Defending Champion, won the Under 23 Division Stage, and he moved up to second place overall in the Division, he is 3 minutes and 35 seconds behind the leader Manuel Steven Polanco Elena who finished 26th overall in a time of 7:32.37.
Hopkins is 8th 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 7th 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 10 km to go I realized a stage win was possible. With 5 km 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 on the coming days if possible.”
