Tour of Japan - 2.2

Japan, May 14-21, 2006

Photos

Stage 6 - May 21: Hibiya city - Ooi Wharf Circuit, Tokyo, 148.9km

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Images by Miwako Sasaki

'We are twins!': Zdenek Stybar and Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) listen to the music on their iPod before the start.
Peace! Ivan De Nobile (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) has his picture taken with fans.
Only two minutes before the start, the organiser draws the start line on the road.
The start of the final stage of the 10th Tour of Japan in Tokyo.
The breakaway passes in front of the many spectators in Tokyo.
Shinri Suzuki (Miyata Subaru, C) tries to get the points jersey in the breakaway.
The peloton in Tokyo: Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) always works hard.
Green leader's jersey Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) closer to his goal
The final breakaway: Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) watches for a chance to win.
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) claims his win in the end.
Martin Velits (Team Konica Minolta) is second, and Andrey Mizourov (Cycling Team Capec) is fourth in Tokyo.
Kevin Pauwels (Fidea Cycling Team) finishes first in the peloton.
Stage 6 winner Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare)
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) takes the final classification of a stage race for the first time in his nine year career.
19 year-old John-Lee Augustyn (Konica Minolta) gets the red mountains jersey.
Shinri Suzuki (Miyata Subaru) is the only Japanese on the final podium, taking the blue points jersey.
South African Team Konica Minolta wins the team classification.
The final podium: Shinri Suzuki (Miyata Subaru), John-Lee Augustyn (Team Konica Minolta), Vladimir Duma and Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare).
I'm your teammate! Mr. Ogawa, president of the organiser of the Tour of Japan, receives a team jersey from race winner Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare).
Hey, Universal boys, do you drink a lot of beer instead of coffee tonight?

Stage 5 - May 20: Japan Cycle Sports Center loop, Izu, 110.5km

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Images by Miwako Sasaki

The green leader's jersey Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) before the start
A wet start for the 5th stage of the 10th Tour of Japan
Koji Fukushima (Team Vang Cycling, R) has a spot in the break first, but he drops out soon
Japanese Tomoya Kano (Skil-Shimano) leads the break
Tomoya Kano (Skil-Shimano, L) who made the break today, say, 'Recently I don't feel that the foreign riders are much stronger than me!'
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) works hard in front of the peloton
The peloton on the small hill in the Cycle Sports Center
Italian Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare always controls the peloton against the strong wind
'I'm tired!' Cycro-cross world champion Erwin Vervecken (Fidea Cycling Team) abandons the stage, but he can start tomorrow thanks to the special regulations in Japan
Australian Matthew Lloyd (South Australia.com-AIS) wins the sprint over Tomoya Kano (Skil-Shimano)
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) finishes the stage at the head of the peloton
The hardest day: red mountains jersey John-Lee Augustyn (Team Konica Minolta) gets muddy
The hardest day: Kevin Pauwels (Fidea Cycling Team) shows signs of fatigue
The best smile of the day: Tomoya Kano (Skil-Shimano) finds his father into the crowd after he finishes second
The best workers: Skil-Shimano boys take a rest contentedly
Stage winner Matthew Lloyd (South Australia.com-AIS) is awarded a lot of prizes
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) almost confirms his green leader's jersey
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) also gets the blue points jersey
19 year-old John-Lee Augustyn (Team Konica Minolta) confirms his red mountains jersey and gets beer as a prize. Er, John-Lee, do you know that you can't drink a beer until you're 20 in Japan?
Antonio Iacovozzi, director of Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare, is satisfied with a result. 'There's still one stage, but I can sleep well tonight.'

Stage 2 - May 15: Todaiji Temple - Nunome Dam Circuit, Nara, 146.2km

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Images by Miwako Sasaki

The Belgian Fidea Team takes a picture in front of the old gate of Todaiji Temple in Nara
The Belgian Fidea Team enjoys sightseeing before the start in Nara
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) checks the mountain points before the start
Japanese Yukiya Arashiro (Team Vang Cycling, R) who was second in the first stage, is smilling with his teammates, the Fukushima brothers.
South Australia.com-AIS boys are waiting for the start in Nara
The start ceremony is held in front of the old gate of Todaiji Temple in Nara.
The jersies for Stage 2: Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) with the blue points jersey and Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong, China) with the green leader's jersey.
The Belgian Fidea Team is waiting for the start...too long a ceremony!
The riders start the race in front of the old gate Todaiji Temple in Nara.
Feeding for Kazakh team Capec.
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) leads the breakaway.
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) works for his team leader Vladimir Duma.
Andrey Mizourov (Cycling Team Capec) always hides in the peloton in Nara.
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) wins stage 2 of the Tour of Japan.
Martin Velits (Team Konica Minolta), twin brother of Peter, finishes second in stage 2 of the Tour of Japan.
The excellent Yukihiro Doi (Skil-Shimano) finishes third in stage 2 of the Tour of Japan
After his long breakaway, Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) finishes later.
'Sempre attaco' Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) suffers after his long breakaway.
Stage 2 winner Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare) is smilling on the podium.
The jerseys: Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong, China, L) , Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare), and Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare, R)

Stage 1 - May 14: Senboku Circuit, Sakai City (Osaka), 140.8km

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Images by Miwako Sasaki

Welcome to Osaka, welcome to Japan!
Hey ragazzi, let's take a picture in Japanese style, Peace!
Masahiro Shinagawa (Skil-Shimano) checks his bike before the start
South Australia.com-AIS in Japan
Belgian Fidea is followed by a local TV crew
Team Konica Minolta before the start.
One of favorites for the Tour of Japan this year, Peter Velits (Team Konica Minolta).
Hong Kong boys are waiting to start.
Vladimir Duma (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare, L) and Andrey Mizourov (Cycling Team Capec).
Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare, L) is thinking about a long breakaway before the start.
The race starts, the festival starts!
The break: Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare, L) and Hanco Kachelhoffer (Team Konica Minolta).
The most aggressive rider today: Raivis Belohvoschiks (Team Universal Caffe-C.B. Immobiliare)
Sean Finning (South Australia.com-AIS) leads the peloton.
Hong Kong boys work hard for thier leader, Kam Po Wong.
About 15,000 spectators gathered during the first stage of the 10th Tour of Japan.
Hong Kong's Kam Po Wong wins the bunch sprint.
The first stage winner Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong, China) gets the green leader's jersey.
Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong, China) also gets the blue points jersey.
Do you know that the paper you bring is very important for Japanese athletes, Wong?