Another Time Trial whiz, Sam Bewley, who like Sergent was also a bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, will finish third according to Hopman.
"The fact his mother [Nelson Park School principal Sue Bewley] lives in Napier will be a big help to him."
A rider from Hopman's stable and one of Central Hawke's Bay's favourite sons, multiple world track champion Regan Gough, is Hopman's prediction for fourth place.
"Winning is a habit for Regan. He will win the under-23 title and finish fourth overall," Hopman said.
Cantabrian Hamish Scheurs, last year's under-23 title winner, completes Hopman's list of top five finishers.
"Hamish is coached by Hawke's Bay's Carl Patton. He has done some testing at EIT and has been snooping around the course in recent weeks."
Hopman had a warning for the competitors. "Don't underestimate the course or it will bite you. It isn't easy ... I almost used a tank of petrol when I rode it on my motorbike the other day."
Hopman is well qualified to predict the top five finishers in the race. In addition to coaching Gough he coaches national women's club champion Hannah van Kampen and the Ramblers women's team which won a sprint title during last year's UCI Women's World Tour event in New Zealand.
Hopman won the coach of the year award at last year's Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year function where Gough captured the supreme and junior awards.
The start and finish area for the elite men's course is on Marina Parade in Napier and urban and rural laps will be used.
The race will start with a neutralised 7km ride out of the city and will start near Tamatea. Riders will complete two laps of the rural circuit and 7.5 laps of the city circuit.
The city circuit is technical, includes a number of fast and technical descents and in some cases requires riders to move to the right hand (wrong) side of the road. Riders then complete a flat circuit of 13km when they come off Napier Hill for the last time. There will be King of the Mountain and Sprint Primes with cash prizes and jerseys for the winners.
Categories:
-Rural Leg: Riders start through the Prebensen Dr/Orotu Dr roundabout and turn right at the Puketitiri/Church roads roundabout. They then turn left at the Puketitiri/Puketapu intersection, right at Puketapu Pub into Dartmoor Rd which flows into Apley Rd. At the top of Apley Rd they turn right into Puketitiri Rd.
At Seafield Rd riders will complete another lap and at the end of Seafield Rd turn right into Hill Rd. At the T-intersection they turn right on to SH2 and head south back to Napier.
Once past the airport they will turn in towards Napier Hill through the Humber St and West Quay roundabout before tackling the city circuit.
-City Circuit: Riders continue around the hill (south) through two more roundabouts. Once in Carlyle St they turn left into Chaucer Rd then left into into Spencer Rd and up the hill. At the top of the hill they go around the roundabout and right into Napier Tce. They turn left into Burlington Rd and straight into Milton Rd. At the bottom of Milton Rd they turn right on the wrong side of the road and remain on the right before turning right into Shakespeare Rd (Feed Station). Riders continue up and at the intersection turn right still on Shakespeare Rd.
Following a fast descent they turn left into Browning St and turn left at the roundabout on to Marine Parade and pass the start/finish line. They continue past the port and turn left into Battery Rd. Another left is taken at the T-intersection Battery Rd/Bridge St.
-Last Flat Lap (13km): Turn left at the bottom of Milton Rd, left at the T-intersection Battery Rd/Bridge St and right at the Pandora roundabout. They go straight through the Humber St and West Quay roundabout. They turn left at the SHW2B Junction and head south. They turn left at the Prebensen Dr roundabout and straight through the Severn St and Ford Rd roundabout.
Riders turn left at the Thackeray Rd (SHW2) roundabout and go straight through the Pandora roundabout before turning right into Battery Rd. They continue down Battery Rd before turning right on to Breakwater Rd (SH50) and the finish line.
-Spectators: There are two official viewing areas. Fans are encouraged to watch the riders climb the Hospital Hill near the Botanical Gardens or at the start/finish line on Marine Parade.
