Brutal Greek Terrain Ends Hopkins’ Tour of Hellas Ambitions
IslandStats.com
Bermudian cyclist Kaden Hopkins faced another afternoon of disappointment on Friday as his ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas campaign came to a sudden halt during a punishing third stage through the Greek heartlands.
Stage Three was always earmarked as the queen stage of this year’s tour—a marathon 207.3km route from Volos to Lamia. While the distance alone was enough to test the peloton, it was the staggering 4,200 metres of elevation gain that proved decisive.
The route featured relentless climbs including the categorised ascents of Agios Georgios and Chania, both exceeding 10 kilometres in length with gradients touching nearly 8%. Coupled with treacherous wet conditions on the descent into Lamia, the stage transformed into a race of attrition.
Hopkins, representing the Atom 6 Bikes – Cycleur de Luxe – Auto Stroo Continental Team, had started the day in high spirits. Following an aggressive opening two days where he secured 10th and 26th place finishes, he sat well within the competitive fold of the general classification.
However, as the peloton fractured on the final major climb toward Anavra, officials pulled cyclists off the course after they deemed that they had fallen off the pace. The 26-year-old was one of the cyclists and he was eventually ruled a Did Not Finish (DNF), marking his fourth consecutive event where he has failed to reach the final timing mat.
While the DNF is a significant blow to Hopkins' immediate momentum, his aggressive breakaway on Stage One—where he led the field for nearly 50km—remains a highlight of his spring campaign in Europe.
The tour continues without its premier Bermudian representative, as Jelle Johannink of the Unibet Rose Rockets takes the overall lead into the final weekend. For Hopkins, the focus now shifts to recovery and breaking the cycle of frustration as he prepares for the next leg of the European continental circuit.
