Bermudian trio Matthew Oliveira, Alyssa Rowse and Kaden Hopkins will be keen to pick up where they left off when they compete at next month’s Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont.

The junior cyclists produced a solid showing at last month’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas where Oliveira won the gold medal in the boys’ time-trial and bronze in the road race and Rowse bronze in the girls’ time trial. Hopkins narrowly missed out on the podium in the boys’ time-trial, finishing sixth.

The trio will be looking to keep the momentum going in Vermont and will rely on their previous experience competing at this event.

“For them it’s an opportunity to go back and race the same event to be able to measure their progress,” Peter Dunne, the Bermuda Bicycle Association president, said. “Alyssa last year raced in the women’s 3-4 category. This year she is going to race in the Pro 1/2/3 so she will be racing the top women’s group which is a big step up. Last year she was second overall and this year it’s more of a test for her at a very high level.

“The junior boys will race in the junior category because the junior category is really strong and they are very capable so that’s good.

“Also there’s Casandra McPhee who is a Bermudian girl who goes to school in the United States. She is going to be racing in the women’s category 3-4 race.”

Other locals competing are Bermuda’s top cyclist Dominique Mayho and Che’quan Richardson. They are also no strangers having previously competed at this event before.

Mayho, who rides for amateur outfit Asfra Racing Team Oudenaarde in Belgium, is competing among the men’s professional field and Richardson in the men’s category 3.

The Green Mountain Stage Race comprises of the mile Warren Store individual time-trial, The Bridges Circuit Race, Champion System Mad River Road Race and Dealer.Com Burlington Criterium and takes place September 1-4.

“It’s a very challenging event,” Dunne added. “The junior male category is very strong and some of the best in the United States are there.”