Cyclists Nicholas Narraway and Kaden Hopins are preparing to compete as Team Bermuda in the Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont this weekend.

Held over four days from tomorrow to Monday, one of the biggest events in the US calendar features a time-trial, circuit race, mountain stage and criterium, providing an all-round test for elite cyclists.

Despite Hopkins racing in Guadeloupe and Narraway competing in Europe, the two riders have spent the last week together at a training camp in Quebec to prepare their legs.

For Narraway, who became a national champion for the first time when winning the time-trial on island in June, the camp has been a good way to prepare for one of his favourite races.

“It’s been really nice out here in Quebec,” Narraway said.

“The weather has been good and I’ve enjoyed getting the miles in. I started off really well in Europe, got some good results and showed a lot of potential and winning the national time-trial was fantastic.

“But after that, back in Europe I’ve had a couple of rough stage races with a few mechanical issues and not feeling quite right, but this training camp in Canada has rectified that and got me feeling good again.”

Narraway is looking forward to the dedicated mountain stage and is predicting some favourable results over the course of the four days.

“It’s definitely something I enjoy but we’ll have to see how it goes,” Narraway said.

“It’s a pure mountaintop finish and that will probably suit me more than the other stages but you never quite know how it is going to go on the day.

“I finished fifth in the TT last time and then a mechanical issue on the mountain stage but I still had a somewhat decent finish after having a mechanical issue and having to fight back to the group. If everything goes smoothly this year I can see myself doing really well on the mountain stage this year.

“The standard is probably a little lower than what we are used to as if you are at a super-high level you are probably racing in Europe. But there are usually a few guys racing who are naturally talented but not willing to go to Europe who will be there and going under the radar.”

Hopkins recently acquitted himself well in the Tour of Guadeloupe, wearing the yellow jersey for a couple of days after winning the time-trial and racking up five top-ten finishes in the ten-day race.

After moving to the Caribbean island to race this year he is looking forward to this Vermont race as he tries to navigate a professional path back to Europe.

“I haven’t told everyone in Guadeloupe that I’m not coming back yet so I hope that they don’t read The Royal Gazette, but my plan is not to go back for the full season next year.

“I’d like to go back for the Tour of Guadeloupe, but I’m really hoping to be back in mainland Europe.

Hopkins also has happy memories of racing the Green Mountain Stage Race and is confident that Team Bermuda will be threatening the podium place both on individual days and overall.

“We did our last training ride on Tuesday, driving down to Vermont on Wednesday and we’re ready to go,” Hopkins said.

“I’ve done Green Mountain a few times and one of the things I like about it is that it has a stage for every discipline.

“Between Nic and I, we have a good chance in the TT and I think we have a chance of doing really well with the potential to get some good results.

“I’ve done the race twice as a junior and twice in the elite field and I’ve always enjoyed it and performed well. I’ve done decently here before but never really gone with the ambition of winning anything. It used to be one of the biggest races of my year but this year I’m definitely going to try to win the TT and maybe a stage or two.”

While the two guys are heading into the weekend on the hunt for medals, they also have an eye on the Caribbean Championships in a few weeks in Belize, where they will joined by Conor White as part of a three-man team.

“I’m going in with a lot of pressure and I have to try to retain the lead over those two in our rivalry,” Narraway said.

“I’ve heard the course in Belize is pretty flat but that is no longer a deficit for me as my TT has come a long way.”