ツアー・オブ・ジャパン 2023

OKA Atsushi (JCL TEAM UKYO) takes winning of stage and Green Jersey

The Tour of Japan 2023 is on the day 5 of the turnaround. The Shinshu Iida stage, which has a new course layout starting in 2022, is a 12.2 km circuit course that starts and finishes in front of the Shimohisakata Elementary School grounds, covering a distance of 120.9 km. The stage is recognized as a mountain stage, so a fierce battle of attrition is expected, and the battle for GC victory finally began in earnest.

A battle of attacks began immediately after the actual start, but no team easily allowed a breakaway. 9 riders formed a breakaway group on the first lap, but all were absorbed on the second lap. 8 riders, including KOJIMA Naoki (TEAM BRIDGESTONE CYCLING), the Red Jersey wearer, and Carter BETTLES (VICTOIRE HIROSHIMA), the winner of the Inabe stage attacked and finally formed a breakaway with a 1’50” time gap to the peloton.

On the fourth lap, IMAMURA Shunsuke (TEAM BRIDGESTONE CYCLING) and Felix STEHLI (EF EDUCATION-NIPPO DEVELOPMENT TEAM) bridged from the main group and joined the breakaway. The break now had 10 riders and had opened a 4’12” time gap.
With a maximum time, gap of 4’44”, the peloton began chasing. At one point the gap was reduced to 3’43”, but the breakaway increased its pace again on lap 7, widening the time gap to 4’21” and tried to escape to the finish at 2 laps to go. The time gap entering the final lap was 3 ‘46”. Four riders dropped out of the break, and the final phase of the race became an uphill sprint battle by six riders. Carter BETTLES (VICTOIRE HIROSHIMA) was the first to set off with less than 300m to go. He tried to breakaway alone, but OKA Atsushi (JCL TEAM UKYO) attacked him. In the end, Oka sprinted away from the chasing pack to take the stage win. 

As a result, OKA Atsushi Oka (JCL TEAM UKYO) jumped up to first place overall and took the Green Jersey. Luke LAMPERTI (TRINITY RACING) retained the Blue Jersey. KOJIMA Naoki (TEAM BRIDGESTONE CYCLING) also defended the mountain prize, and will head to tomorrow's queen stage, Fujisan.

OKA Atsushi (JCL TEAM UKYO) – Green Jersey

“Thank you very much for your support. I am really happy. The team's plan was to let the riders aiming for the GC victory finish at the top, and I was originally supposed to assist and check the breakaway. But I did not expect the time gap to be so wide. Then, I switched my focus to my stage win and rode with a strong determination that I absolutely had to win.”

Luke LAMPERTI (TRINITY RACING) – Blue / White Jersey

“We tried for a breakaway, but in the end, I didn’t do much. Besides, when the bunch was spread back and not too much escaping. Fujisan is not for me, it's a bit too much uphill, so it's a bit more of a rest day, a short day, and maybe enjoy being here in Japan. It's my first-time seeing Mt. Fuji.”

KOJIMA Naoki (TEAM BRIDGESTONE CYCLING) – Red Jersey

“I was planning to escape to get the KOM points, but the breaks were not easily accepted, and I had to use a lot of leg work in the beginning. I wanted to go all the way to the third KOM point, but it was too hard and I couldn't keep up with the front group. 
Fujisan stage is important, but I think the battle for the mountain prize will be decided in Sagamihara stage, so I will still be aiming for it.”