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Japan Cyclocross Championships - CN
Sakai, Japan, December 11, 2005
Tsujiura defends crown
By David Alvarez
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The 11th Japanese Cyclocross Championships were held in conjunction with the fourth round of the Kansai Series, in the city of Sakai. The slightly surreal race venue was an oceanside park on a man-made island in Osaka harbour, surrounded by factories and garbage incineration plants. With slightly cloudy and cool conditions, 53 riders toed the line for the elite men's start.
A lead group of eight took off from the very beginning, and this would prove to be the big break of the day. The riders, including previous champs Masahiko Mifune and Keichi Tsujiura, worked together for the first few laps, with no real attacks being launched. Behind them the rest of the field formed into small groups on the fast and windy course.
Drama came early as Tsujiura rolled a tire on the second lap. Luckily, it was just before the pit and teammate Raita Suzuki was there to pull him back up to the front group. On the fourth lap, local favorite Mifune flatted and crashed, and he lost contact with the lead group for good.
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Not long after Mifune's mishap, Tsujiura launched a brutal attack that split the rest of the lead riders, looking impressive as he continued to put time every lap into his nearest competitors. He would cruise in for the win, with time enough for a lengthy celebration as he coasted up to the finish line.
After the main group splintered, Suwako Racing Team strongman Masanori Kosaka and Shimano Drinking rider Shingo Shiraishi rode in tandem, with Kosaka taking the sprint for 2nd. It was an excellent result for Shiraishi, a mountain bike pro who excels in courses with more climbing.
Ritsumeikan University showed its continued development of top cycling racers, with two riders finishing in the top ten. Masahiko Mifune fought back for 8th, just ahead of Bridgstone Anchor rider and current National MTB champion Raita Suzuki.
In the women's event there was not quite as much drama, but an equally dominating performance as Bicinoko.com rider Eiko Toyooka used her power on the flat course to take the white jersey of the Japan national champion.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Makoto Ayano/www.cyclingtime.com
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) wins his fourth consective Japanese cyclocross champion title.
- The 11th all-Japan cyclocross championship raced by 55 riders
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) leads the peloton
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) attacked and soloed away to victory
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) wins his fourth consective Japanese cyclocross champion title.
- Elite men's podium (l-r): Masanori Kosaka, Keiichi Tsujiura, Shingo Shiraishi
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) with the Japanese champion's jersey
- Can I eat it? Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone-Anchor) bites his gold medal
- U23 men's champion Kohey Yamamoto (INAC)
- Yu Takenouchi (Rits Univ) got the win in the junior race
- Now that's a hat I could eat... Yu Takenouchi (Rits Univ) is the new Japanese junior CX champion
- Ayako Toyooka (Bicinoko.com) wins her first Japanese cyclocross title
- There were nine riders in the women's race
- Ayako Toyooka (Bicinoko.com) heads out solo
- Ikumi Tazika was chasing Toyooka but couldn't catch up
- The elite women's podium (l-r): Ikumi Tazika (GOD HILL), Ayako Toyooka (Bicinoko.com), Masumi Sakai (testach)
- Ayako Toyooka (Bicinoko.com) bites her gold medal
- The Japanese cyclocross original cowbell is sponsored by Cateye
- Keiichi Tsujiura's ride was a Bridgestone-Anchor prototype cross bike
- Ayako Toyooka's NOKO cross bike took her to the national crown
- Ayako Toyooka (Bicinoko.com) and her bike
- Sake, anyone? But this cup was signed by Daniele Pontoni
- The Panasonic bananas... are supercharged for extra special energy power
Images by David Alvarez
- The elite men start
- The elite women's champion was Eiko Toyooka (BiciNoko.com)
- It was a fast pace from the gun
- Mifune leads the front group
- The lead riders head through the barriers
- The leaders
- This is cross in Japan, so there are plenty of big buildings around
- Keiichi Tsujiura and Masahiko Mifune get a gap
- Keiichi Tsujiura takes a pull at the front
- Keiichi Tsujiura wins another Japanese 'cross title
Results
Elite men 1 Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) 2 Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team) 3 Shingo Shiraishi (Shimano Drinking) 4 Kouhei Yamamoto 5 Atsushi Maruyama (Suwako Racing Team) 6 Yoshimitsu Tsuji (Ristumeikan University) 7 You Ishii (Ristumeikan University) 8 Masahiko Mifune (Subaru Miyata Racing) 9 Raita Suzuki (Bridgestone Anchor) 10 Mitsuru Ohara Elite women 1 Eiko Toyooka (BiciNoko.com) 2 Ikumi Tajika (God Hill) 3 Masumi Sakai (Testach Racing)
