NTN presents 2018 ツアー・オブ・ジャパン

NTN presents 2018 Tour of Japan (so-called TOJ) finally started 8-day stage race in Sakai city in Osaka.  This year marks the 21st edition and the first stage is an individual time trial with 2.6 km circuit course in Daisen Park, Sakai city, Osaka on Sunday, 20th May.  The course is almost flat and was shortened a little bit from last year’s 2.65km, due to the changes of its start and finish line.

94 riders from 16 teams, of both foreign and Japanese teams got started the tour in glare sunshine.

The first top record time was hit by Grega BOLE who was the first-start rider in BAHRAIN – MERIDA with the start number 13th.  He is one of the favorite riders for 2018 Tour of Japan and stood out first for the GC win.  His time, 3’14”55 was not broken for a while, but the start number 60th, Mihkel RäIM (ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY) renewed the record time.  However, RäIM could not stay in the hot seat for long and Oliver WOOD (JLT Condor) aged 22 years old made 0’00”54 faster time than RäIM’s time.  Moreover, Ian BIBBY who was the last-start rider in the team marked the best time, beating WOOD’s time by 0’01”24 faster.

Marco CANOLA (NIPPO-VINI FANTINI-EUROPA OVINI) who won three stages and the Blue Jersey wearer in the 2017 Tour of Japan, started as the last 4th rider, could not make the better record than BIBBY’s and ranked the 2nd in GC in the end.

The first-stage winner, BIBBY wears the Green Jersey, Individual General Classification and the Blue Jersey, Points Classification.  The White Jersey, Best Young Rider Classification (Under 25) goes to Oliver WOOD who ranked the third in GC.  Atsushi OKA (UTSUNOMIYA BLITZEN) finished at the rank 5th with 0’01”80 behind BIBBY’s time

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