NTN presents 2018 ツアー・オブ・ジャパン

The 4th Stage showed up in Mino city, Gifu prefecture where is famous for “Mino Washi (traditional Japanese paper)” as has happened in the past.  The weather was rain as it was forecasted and the temperature didn’t reach to 20 degree Celsius which was different from yesterday.

The organizer released news in the morning that Yukiya ARASHIRO (BAHRAIN – MERIDA) and Kosuke TAKEYAMA (JAPAN NATIONAL TEAM) would not race today.  Due to a crash yesterday, ARASHIRO decided not to race today to be safe, although his injury is not crucial.

The parade run started at “Udatsu-no-Agaru-Machinami (Udatsu-lined Old Streets)” which has an atmosphere of the beginning of Edo period (17-19th century).  “Udatsu” was a firewall slightly raised at both ends of a roof as a device to prevent fire.  Udatsu could be built only on wealthy houses.

There is a Japanese saying, “Udatsu-ga-Agaru (Udatsu is raised)” or “Udatsu-ga-Agaranai (Udatsu is not raised)” which derives from this architecture.

Mino city, merchant town in Edo period has kept many houses with Udatsu and it is one of sightseeing spot in Mino.

87 riders signed-on, did a parade-run of 4 km and got into the circuit course of 21.3 km per lap, making 6 laps and a half lap.

Today’s course is 139.4km, the longest distance in the Tour of Japan and the elevation gain is 1218 meters which people call a sprint stage.

After a half lap, the first lap formed 5-rider breakaway including top-3 riders for yesterday’s Mountain classification.  Yuma KOISHI (TEAM UKYO), the Red Jersey wearer, followed by Keigo KUSABA (JAPAN NATIONAL TEAM) won the category 2 climb in the second lap and crossed the line at the 3rd place in the second point of KOM in the 4th lap.  As a result, KUSABA won the Red Jersey today.

The peloton was controlled by BAHRAIN – MERIDA, the Green Jersey wearer.  The teams who want to take place of the leader jersey speeded up for the finish sprint.  The breakaway was caught in the beginning of climbs in the last lap and teams competed to take good position.

After a bridge, the course is 1km-straight to the finish.  Sprint riders from each team were expanded side by side in entire two-car lane.  In last 25 meters, Mihkel RäIM (ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY) and Raymond CREDER (TEAM UKYO) were ahead of the bunch just before the finish line and RäIM who finished single-digit place in all 3 stages so far had a narrow victory.

The Green Jersey has been kept by Grega BOLE (BAHRAIN – MERIDA) who finished with the bunch today.  The best Japanese rider today is Jin OKUBO (TEAM BRIDGESTONE CYCLING) who finished 4th place today.

“It was really cold today.  The team strategy worked well and my team and I are very happy to win today’s stage.”

“Our plan was to keep the Green Jersey. I know I suffer from this bad weather.  My condition didn’t get better and my legs were not so brilliant in the last.”

“I have been supported by my teammates until when the first breakaway was fixed, so that I really want to appreciate them.  I will do my best, bracing myself while wearing the Red Jersey tomorrow.”

Weather：Rain

Temperature：17℃

Spectators：15,000