TOUR OF JAPAN 2015

Minami-Shinshu, 21st May 2015 – OHAYO-GOZAIMASU! Stage 4 of the 18th Tour of Japan, the Minami-shinshu stage started this morning with perfect and glorious weather conditions to a strong cycling culture crowd.

The 123.6 km race had spectators totaling to a whooping 37,000 to form a colorful tifosi with school children lining the streets, to famous cycling personalities like Koji Fukishima, one half of the Fukishima brothers and legends of the cycling sport in Japan who roped in his entourage and local bicycle clubs to give support and creating a wonderful atmosphere at the top of the King of Mountain climb.

With 96 starters starting the race today, the race rolled off at the 0km marker to immediate action from the peloton. Racing in the 4th stage of the Tour of Japan provided to be a classy one today with breaks and chasers all part of the spectacle in the land of the rising sun. The race also saw 2 riders riding well together after a disorganized lead group allowed the 2 riders to escape.

The 2, Drapac Professional Cycling’s Dylan Girdlestone and Lampre Merida’s Valerio Conti forged a time gap of over 2mins across 8 laps of the race before being caught by the chase group who certainly did not want the group to extend the lead. Adam Phelan who takes over the Leader’s Green Jersey today at the 4th stage of the Tour of Japan initiated the chase group to the leaders.

In the last lap of the race, Hossein Askari of Pishgaman Giant Team who was looking almost likely to win at the stage 4 of the Tour of Japan after successfully escaping from the lead group suffered a puncture before being brought back in the group to end the race with a sprint to the finish.

Benjamin Prades of Matrix Powertag won the sprint over Drapac’s Adam Phelan. Third postion went to Bridgestone Anchor’s Thomas Lebas. All three riders finished today’s race with a total time of 3’08’’31.

The iconic pride of Japan, Mount Fuji and also the Queen’s Stage greets the riders tomorrow for the 5th stage of the Tour of Japan. The 1800m in elevation stage would see the riders gritting their teeth over an uphill battle of a maximum 22% to end the stage tomorrow.

Comments from the riders as follows:

“Today was a really tough stage, the team needed to be aggressive all day and its one of the first GC day. We were really aggressive and we had one of my teammates at the front all day. This made it a lot easier for me as I just had to follow the important guys and to make sure I made it to the finish. The last 2 laps were pretty hard but I managed to stay in there and I knew I would be in a good position for the sprint in the small lead group. I just missed out on the win but I’m still happy with the result and to obtain the leader’s jersey”

“After the first few laps, I didn’t feel at home (good) but I felt better after the subsequent laps and I am feeling very good for the Mount Fuji Stage. Last year, I finished 8th in the Fuji Stage and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s stage and to better my result and try to finish in the top 5. The course is really good and I enjoyed it as it has all the technical requirements for a race. The uphill and descents made me really enjoy the course”

“ Of course, tomorrow the Queen’s stage is the hardest stage for the tour. I never really had good results in the previous editions in the Fuji Stage and I don’t expect a good result tomorrow but I’m in the best position currently in the team and I hope to get a good result tomorrow and finish in the top 10 of the race.”