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Japanese Cyclo-cross Championship - NE
Iida, Japan, December 14, 2008
2007 Results Results Past winners
Tsujiura powers to his seventh title
By Kei Tsuji
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Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) achieved an unprecedented seventh straight victory at the 14th Japanese Cyclo-cross Championship event. The Iida, Nagano course held on a river bank was flat, but largely muddy with some puddles of rainwater.
It was Tsujiura who led the race soon after the start and a pack of four riders formed. Tsujiura had trouble with his muddy pedal on the second lap and paced down while two Suwako riders, Masanori Kosaka and Atsushi Maruyama, led the pack. After the defending champion changed his bike no one could keep up his overwhelming pace.
While the battle for the second position was heating between the veteran Kosaka and Seigo Yamamoto (Kai Racing), Tsujiura crossed the finish line, without breaking stride.
"I'm totally happy to achieve the seventh victory," he said. "But at the same time, I regret the fact that no one could stop it. I hope more riders participate to raise the national level."
The men's U23 champion jersey went to Yu Takenouchi (Trek) who finished fourth.
Ayako Toyooka (Team Ayako Toyooka) again conquered the women's race, taking her fourth white national champion jersey.
The two champions are now going to Europe to participate in the World Cup races.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Kei Tsuji
- The 51 elite riders take to the start.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) led the race from the beginning.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) had pedal trouble and tried to clear the cleet.
- The top riders go through a muddy section.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) kept the pace high.
- Elite road racer Kazuya Okazaki (Meitan Hompo - GDR) in muddy section.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) tried to leave the rivals behind.
- Seigo Yamamoto (Kai Racing Team) chases the defending champion.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) dashes up the stairs
- Under 23 rider Yu Takenouchi (Trek) persists.
- Hikaru Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team) in muddy section.
- Atsushi Maruyama (Suwako Racing Team) paced down after good start.
- 18 year-old Kazuya Nakayama (Suwako Racing Team).
- The barriers cannot stop Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor).
- Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team) chases the champion.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) splashes some mud.
- The bruising battle for second position between Seigo Yamamoto (Kai Racing) and Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team).
- Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team) in second position.
- U23 rider Yu Takenouchi (Trek) pushes hard to get podium.
- Masashi Matsui (Shimano Drinking)
- Shintaro Nakama (Team Ridley Japan)
- Yudai Izawa (Bee Club)
- Ryouhei Komori (Daihatsu Bonnechance Iida)
- Mitsuru Ohara (Aisan Sabokura)
- Shinya Ikemoto (Wakokiki Tamura Club)
- Katsunori Irie (Shimano Drinking)
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) keep the high pace.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) crosses the finish line alone.
- Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) got his seventh jersey.
- Elite men podium (L-R): Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing Team), Keiichi Tsujiura (Team Bridgestone Anchor) and Seigo Yamamoto (Kai Racing Team).
- A champagne fight on the podium!
- U23 champion Yu Takenouchi (Trek).
- Ayako Toyooka (Team Ayako Toyooka) dominates the women's race.
- Elite women podium (L-R): Michiko Shimura (Lavenir Azumino), Ayako Toyooka (Team Ayako Toyooka) and Masumi Sakai (Testach Racing).
Results
Elite Men 1 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) Team Bridgestone Anchor 1.06.14 2 Masanori Kosaka (Jpn) Suwako Racing Team 1.02 3 Seigo Yamamoto (Jpn) Kai Racing Team 1.14 4 Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Trek 1.25 5 Hikaru Kosaka (Jpn) Suwako Racing Team 2.48 6 Atsushi Maruyama (Jpn) Suwako Racing Team 3.17 7 Kazuya Nakayama (Jpn) Suwako Racing Team 4.33 8 Ryouhei Komori (Jpn) Daihatsu Bonnechance Iida 5.03 9 Shinya Ikemoto (Jpn) Wakokiki Tamura Club 5.41 10 Katsunori Irie (Jpn) Shimano Drinking 6.02 11 Mitsuru Ohara (Jpn) Aisan Sabokura 6.39 12 Shintaro Nakama (Jpn) Team Ridley Japan 6.45 13 Yudai Izawa (Jpn) Bee Club 6.49 14 Masashi Matsui (Jpn) Shimano Drinking Elite Women 1 Ayako Toyooka (Jpn) Team Ayako Toyooka 44.15 2 Michiko Shimura (Jpn) Lavenir Azumino 0.44 3 Masumi Sakai (Jpn) Testach Racing 1.14 4 Ikumi Tajika (Jpn) God Hill 5.27 5 Yukari Nakamura (Jpn) Nakagawa as.k' design 6.52 6 Tomoka Iwata (Jpn) Kitakuwata High School 8.33 7 Waka Takeda (Jpn) Arai Muraca 8.55
