NTN presents 2018 ツアー・オブ・ジャパン

The second stage of 2018 Tour of Japan started the ceremonial ride of 5.5 km at Fugenji Fureai no Eki (shop) in Kyotanabe city, Kyoto and went around Kyotanabe campus of Doshisha University on Monday, 21st May.  The actual race course is 105 km in total, 6 laps of 16.8 km and finishes at Keihanna Plaza.  The elevation gain is surprisingly tough with 1836 meters.

After the actual start, Daiki YASUHARA (MATRIX POWERTAG) made a solo breakaway.  Keisuke KIMURA (SHIMANO RACING TEAM), Keigo KUSABA (JAPAN NATIONAL TEAM) and Connor BROWN (TEAM ILLUMINATE) made an attack from the peloton, caught YASUHARA and formed 4-rider breakaway.

The sprint point has been set at its 2nd lap and 4th lap at the finish line.  YASUHARA moved ahead first and won both sprint points, gaining 10 points.

The King of Mountain’s classification (KOM) of category 2 has been set at the third lap (43.4km) and 5th lap (77km).  The rider who got the most points today will be the Red Jersey wearer tomorrow and three top leading riders attacked many.  KIMURA (SHIMANO RACING TEAM) and KUSABA (JAPAN NATIONAL TEAM) had a one-on-one battle just before the line and KIMURA crossed the line first, KUSABA and BROWN followed him.  KUSABA won the second KOM, followed by KIMURA and BROWN.

The time gap from the peloton was 4 minutes and a half at most, but the peloton was controlled with increasing speed for the sprint finish by NIPPO – VINI FANTINI – EUROPE OVINI, TEAM UKYO, AISAN RACING TEAM.  The peloton caught the leading group and was separated largely.  The attacks by the leading group were continuously responded.

At the last 2 km to the finish, Yukiya ARASHIRO (BAHRAIN – MERIDA) made an attack and 8 riders escaped from the peloton.  The front group kept in check for the goal.  AMEZAWA (UTSUNOMIYA BLITZEN) felt “a chance”, speeded up into the second corner and appeared first at the straight line to the finish with making a big gap at the last corner.  The front group could not make it to catch AMEZAWA in the last sprint and AMEZAWA let out a yell of triumph with raising his fist.

The last Japanese stage winner at the Tour of Japan was ARASHIRO at the Izu stage two years ago.  It is the first time that a Japanese rider won the Kyoto stage which was held for the third time.  AMEZAWA made it to the podium in 2017 Japan Cup Cycle Road Race and finally won the UCI race as a hopeful young rider.

The Green Jersey wearer will be Grega BOLE (BAHRAIN – MERIDA) with gaining bonus time of 6 seconds and finishing the second today.

AMEZAWA will wear the Blue Jersey, since he has got 25 points at the sprint point of the finish.  The point of KIMURA and KUSABA was the same for the Mountain’s classification, but KUSABA will be the Red Jersey wearer tomorrow because of the GC time.

“Today’s win was really surprising for me and I still cannot believe it.  It is a great result for the team to win the stage and I honestly receive this stage win.”

“I am happy to win the Green Jersey in the end today.  I could be in the front group although it was really hot weather, but there was a rider who was faster than me and could not make it to be the winner.”

Weather: Sunny

Temperature: 25℃

Spectators: 53,000