Arnold Races Strong to Ninth at Belgian Waffle Ride
IslandStats.com
Cyclist Gabriella Arnold put in a strong performance at the recent Belgian Waffle Ride in Montana, finishing an impressive ninth in the women's race. The challenging multi-surface event saw Montana native Stella Hobbs secure a dominant home victory.
Hobbs, hailing from Whitefish, near the Canadian border in the Rocky Mountains, stormed away from the field on the first climb and rode solo to cross the line in a commanding time of 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 33 seconds.
Arnold, known for her grit and versatility, demonstrated her form by clocking a time of 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 46 seconds. This placed her ninth overall, crossing the line just 1 minute and 13 seconds behind the victorious Hobbs.
The Belgian Waffle Ride series is renowned for its gruelling courses that combine road, gravel, and even singletrack sections, testing riders' endurance and technical skills. Arnold's top-ten finish against a strong North American field underscores her competitive ability and resilience in these unique and demanding events.
Thursday, July 03, 2025
White Battles Back After Early Setback at Otley Grand Prix
IslandStats.com
Cyclist Conor White, fresh off his victory in the recent National Road Race Championship, faced a challenging day at the Raynor Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix in the UK.
White was battling within the lead pack during the race when he unfortunately suffered a mechanical issue, losing his chain. This forced him to pull safely to the side of the road, allowing most of the field to pass him by before he could address the problem.
Despite a determined effort to rejoin the front of the race, White struggled to bridge the significant gap. He was eventually lapped three times in what proved to be a tough outing.
Tim Shoreman was the eventual winner of the Men’s race, clocking a time of 51 minutes and 20 seconds. White finished 81st, three laps down.
While the result was not what the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck rider had hoped for, the experience of competing in such a high-paced and competitive criterium, coupled with overcoming a mid-race mechanical, will undoubtedly add to White's valuable European racing experience. He will look to bounce back in his next competitive outing.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Bermuda's Top Cyclists Feature Prominently in UCI Rankings
IslandStats.com
Following the recent conclusion of the Bermuda Bicycle Association’s National Time Trial and Road Race Championships, IslandStats.com has taken a closer look at where the island's top amateur cyclists stand on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rankings, the world governing body for competitive cycling.
Despite not claiming a National Title this year, Kaden Hopkins, who rides professionally for Uni Sport Lamentinois, remains Bermuda's highest-ranked amateur on the UCI circuit. Hopkins has enjoyed significant success on the international stage, with an impressive 13 UCI race victories to his name, placing him currently at 450th in the UCI Ranking.
Conor White, fresh off his victory in the National Road Race Championship, is also a strong presence on the international scene. White, who competes for Muc-Off - SRCT - Storck, has secured 5 UCI race wins and is currently ranked 756th globally by the UCI.
The National Time Trial Champion, Nicholas Narraway, who rides for Tenerife-BikePoint-LaSedeBycicles, rounds out Bermuda's trio of UCI-ranked amateur cyclists. Narraway has recorded 2 UCI race victories and holds the 1131st position in the current UCI Ranking.
The presence of three Bermudian amateur cyclists within the UCI rankings, all with international race wins, underscores the strong talent pool and competitive spirit within the island's cycling community. Their continued participation on the international stage is crucial for their development and for raising Bermuda's profile in the sport.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Bermuda's Riders Take on 24-Hour MTB Challenge
IslandStats.com
Bermuda was proudly represented at the demanding 24 Hours of Summer Solstice mountain bike festival and relay, held just outside Toronto, Canada. The island's team, aptly named "Older than Dirt" – comprising James Holloway, Curtis Mitchell, Ian Port, Craig Ferguson, and Chris Nusum – showcased remarkable endurance and teamwork in the five-person Age Group 200-249 (Average 40s) category.
Racing a challenging 17.3km loop, the quintet rotated riders in the order of Nusum, Mitchell, Ferguson, Port, and Holloway. They battled through both day and night, enduring the gruelling demands of a full 24 hours on the trails to finish an impressive 6th in their category. Their final time of 24 hours, 53 minutes, and 55 seconds (24:53:55) highlighted the incredibly tight competition, with them finishing just 4 seconds behind 5th place and a mere 16 seconds ahead of 7th after a full day of riding.
Team captain James Holloway vividly described the relentless nature of the event: “We had about 4 hours between finishing one lap and starting the next, but by the time you’ve cooled down, eaten, checked over your bike, sat down and thought about life… It was time to get ready to race again. Total sleep time was maybe 1.5 hours spread over the whole 24 hours!”
With over 2,500 riders competing in various formats – solo, duo, quad, and larger teams – the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice is a true test of endurance, strategic teamwork, and a celebration of mountain biking spirit. Bermuda's "Older than Dirt" team certainly embodied that spirit, delivering a highly commendable performance against a deep international field.
Sunday, June 22, 2025
White Claims Thrilling National Road Race Title in St. David's
IslandStats.com
The 2025 Bermuda National Road Race Championships delivered a spectacular day of cycling today on the challenging St. David's course. Strong headwinds and fierce competition across all categories created a thrilling showcase of endurance, tactics, and raw speed, with several national titles decided by the narrowest of margins.
In the highly anticipated Open Men’s category, Conor White (Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck) emerged victorious in an epic sprint finish, edging out his long-time rivals Kaden Hopkins and Nicholas Narraway. After over two and a half hours of intense racing, just one second separated the top three. White was clocked at 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 1 second (2:32:01), with Hopkins also finishing in 2:32:01, and Narraway just a second behind at 2:32:02. White's tactical prowess and sprint power proved decisive in a race that went down to the wire.
The Open Women’s Category saw Karen Bordage ride a strong, consistent race to claim her first national road race title. Bordage completed the course in 2:00:37, finishing well ahead of Karen Smith, who clocked 2:08:46, and Panzy Olander, who secured third place in 2:17:01.
In the Junior Men’s Division, Jackson Langley (V.T. Construction) continued his dominant form. Building on his recent time trial victory, Langley also claimed the road race title, completing the challenging course in 1:43:40. Jacob Wright finished second with a time of 1:50:25, and Jens Drea rounded out the podium in 1:50:43.
The Junior Women’s field was commanded by Charlotte Millington (V.T. Construction), who delivered a powerful solo ride to take first place in 1:27:48. Naomi MacGuinness secured second in 1:35:01, with Skye Ferguson finishing third just behind her at 1:35:24.
The Masters Men’s Division witnessed a coordinated team effort, resulting in a clean sweep for V.T. Construction. Will Drea, Steven Smith, and Philip Mace crossed the line together, all clocking 1:43:00, showcasing their collective strength and tactical awareness.
The 2025 Bermuda National Road Race Championships once again proved to be a highlight of the cycling calendar, underlining the depth of talent and competitive spirit within the island's cycling community.
