ツアー・オブ・ジャパン 2024

Astana makes 1-2 finish! Nicolas Vinokurov claims stage win in Iida

The fifth day of the Tour of Japan 2024 is real test for GC contenders with wavy inversive course in Iida City. The riders tackle through the 120.9 km course, which consisted of ten laps around a 12km circuit. 

At the end of first lap, 14 men's breakaway was formed, in which Nicolas VINOKUROV (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) and KOM leader NAKAI Tadaaki (SHIMANO RACING TEAM) were very active. Meanwhile Kongphob THIMACHAI (TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM) took first intermediate sprint point, NAKAI got first KOM point which enforces his lead for Red Jersey. 

Max WALKER (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) was only rider to catch the front group from main peloton at 2nd lap. IRIBE Shotaro (SHIMANO RACING TEAM) took second intermediate sprint and Ryan CAVANAGH follows, the latter who is currently 7th place in GC got 2' bonus seconds.

For second KOM and third intermediate went into WALKER and CAVANAGH respectively, more 3' bonus seconds for CAVANAGH. Astana started attacking from leading group at 7th lap, but never dropped their companions in escape group. 

Peloton which mainly led by JCL TEAM UKYO caught the front group at final KOM, but VINOKUROV resists to be brought back, went clear again solo. Benjamin DYBALL (VICTOIRE HIROSHIMA) attacked from the peloton at 3km to go and caught Kazakh rider but VINOKUROV accelerated again on the climb at 500m to go, finished it off by solo. The 2nd place went to Davide TONEATTI (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) who sprinted from the peloton, DYBALL completed the podium.

Nicolas Vinokurov (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) – Stage5 Watahan Shinshu Iida Winner
“Actually, it was very hard. I think the best option today was to escape. We managed to do that with Max Walker.”  The plan after 50km to go was to split the group because there were too many riders and we were going too slow. Unfortunately, the pack came back again, but I just gave it all again to win on the line. I'm very happy to win in Japan, such a beautiful, very respectful country.

Giovanni CARBONI (JCL TEAM UKYO) – Green Jersey Wearer/ Blue Jersey Wearer
“I'd like to say thank you to whole team. They controlled the race and keep the green jersey. Tomorrow will be a big day, but we're ready.”

NAKAI Tadaaki (SHIMANO RACING TEAM) – Red Jersey Wearer
“The climbs were hard from the beginning, but on the second lap, I was able to escape by following KINAN's Ryan's move, and was able to take the first KOM point at the front. I was able to score points in this tough stage, which increased my chances of wearing the mountains jersey in Tokyo."

Zachary MARRIAGE (TEAM BRIDGELANE) – White Jersey Wearer
“It was a tough day. I'm glad that we could keep on the jersey.” It was pretty controlled most of the day by JCL TEAM UKYO. we'll see what happens tomorrow and see how much today hurts. Tomorrow we'll see how much we can help our GC rider and hopefully hold on to this white jersey. But GC is the big goal for tomorrow. "