Kaden Hopkins continued his strong recent from by claiming a top-five finish in the 44th edition of the Tour du Loiret race series in France.

Building on the momentum of a sensational bronze medal in the time trial at the PanAmerican Cycling Championships in Panama last month, Hopkins got the Series off to a promising start with a seventh-place finish in the first stage, a road race contested over a 67.4-kilometre course from Meung-Sur-Loire to Patay.

Competing for French team Vendée U, the 23-year-old then finished 15th in the gruelling second stage, a 168.5km ride from Nogent-Sur-Vernisson to Chateau-Renard, before the Bermudian took fifth in the next stage, an 11.7km Time-Trial in Ormes.

Hopkins rounded out the event, finishing a solid 18th in the final stage, an 81km Criterium in Orleans, to finish with a total time of 9hr 48min 22sec, which was good enough for fifth place, just 35 seconds adrift of series winner Clement Carisey, of Charvieu-Chavagneux IC.

Hopkins could not hide his delight over his performance, particularly as he only had limited preparation following the PanAmerican Cycling Championships.

“I was really happy with how the race went. I was really only one week back into proper training after a bit of rest since Panama so to already be feeling that good in the race was really motivating,” he said.

“It was a really hard race that was essentially decided on bonus seconds and the time trial, and I know I was missing a bit, but I felt good on every stage so to leave with fifth on the General Classification was a result I was happy with and I know I’m not far off.

“I’m now back in Spain for another week and a half to do a little training block, and then I return to France for some more racing in the Loire Atlantique and Ronde de L’Oise Series.”