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15th Japan Cup - 1.1
Japan, October 22, 2006
2005 Results Results Past winners
Neo-Pro Riccò flies to win the Japan Cup
Another new champion born in Japan
By Kei Tsuji/www.cyclingtime.com
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The 15th edition of the Japan Cup was held on October 22 in Utsunomiya, the same parcours where the World Championships were held in 1990. In the final sprint, Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) jumped out and finished on the line in front of Ruggero Marzoli (Lampre-Fondital) and Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel).
In the final phase, the rider from Modena could not get a support from his team-mates, but he fought his way out by himself. Javier Mejías (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was the man who contributed most to Riccò's success, because it was his attack made the race move.
"I'm so happy to win in front of the good sprinters, Marzoli and Gusev." Riccò announced after the race, "I'm a climber, but I thought it would be a better to stay with the others and finish in sprint." The 23 year-old Italian has finished his neo-pro season with a delightful victory.
As a tradition, the Japan Cup has invited foreign teams. Going back the past races, you can find great champions, like Gilberto Simoni, Andrea Tafi, Eric Zabel and so on. For the local tifosi, this is the only chance to see the ProTour riders in Japan, and that's why this race has grown as the most popular cycling event. This year was no exception; the organizer has invited four ProTour teams, Discovery Channel, Lampre-Fondital, Saunier Duval-Prodir and Bouygues Telecom.
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A great amount of the Japanese fans, about sixty thousand, gathered at the Utsunomiya Forest Circuit, tough the race lacked the defending champion Il Piccolo Principe, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital). The crowds showed that the popularity has never stopped growing.
According to the Disco's roster, it was obvious that the team, directed by Johan Bruyneel, has come to win it. Fumiyuki Beppu (Discovery Channel), called "Fumy," was said to be the leader of the team. The first Japanese ProTour rider who wears the red-white national champion jersey was able to stay in front until the final bell rang, but then entrusted the task to Gusev.
How it unfolded
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As autumn is drawing on, it was a cool morning when 65 riders and the 13 team cars got started to the mountainous circuit. They passed 11 laps, 151km in total.
About this course, one of the favourites Xavier Florencio (Bouygues Telecom) expressed his impression before the start. "This is really like a Classic race," said the Clásica San Sebastián champion. "The climb is hard, but short. I found that this course is very much suited to me. I'm ready to win it."
It was Koji Fukushima (Team Vang) who attempted to go clear soon after the starting pistol, and then ten Japanese riders caught him. The bunch, controlled by ProTour teams, left the eleven go and the time gap grew rapidly.
Two riders were dropped from the breakaway, leaving Masahiro Shinagawa, Yoshimasa Hirose (Skil-Shimano), Kazuhiro Mori, Taiji Nishitani (Aisan Racing Team), Koji Fukushima (Team Vang), Ken Hashikawa (Matrix Powertag), Yusuke Hatanaka, Kazuya Okazaki (Japan National Team), Shinri Suzuki (Miyata-Subaru) to go ahead, gaining two minutes in the first two laps.
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But the bunch was keeping the pace steady, and the gap remained under three minutes. When the nine-man breakaway reached the last three laps, the pursuit began in earnest, headed by the Sauniers and Discos. Then Javier Mejías (Saunier Duval-Prodir) bridged to the leading group and drew away everyone in front. The Spanish rider got a big gap over the bunch, but was caught in the final lap.
At 5km to go, there were only five riders in the leading group, all ProTour, Gusev and Devolder (Discovery channel), Marzoli and Szmyd (Lampre-Fondital), and Riccò; it seemed that Disco and Lampre were the favourites. In the final sprint, Szmyd showed a sharp acceleration for Marzoli, but Riccò was in a good position, just behind the Lampre duo. Finally, the first-year pro jumped out and finished nipped ahead of Marzoli by just a few inches.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Miwako Sasaki
- Belgium Stijn Devolder (middle of Discovery Channel's) smiles for picture with his teammate Benjamin Noval and Trent Lowe before the start.
- Johan Bruyneel tells tactics to Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) : '' you must beware number 3 and 4 and...''
- Rony Martias (Bouygues Telecom) comes from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, a small island belongs to France.
- Clasica San Sebastián winner Xavier Florencio (Bouygues Telecom) is one of popular riders in 15th Japan Cup
- Stagiaire Kin San Wu (Lampre - Fondital) is a first Hong Kong rider for Italian Team.
- Italian Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Prodir) concentrates before the start.
- Japanese Champion Fumiyuki Beppu (Discovery Channel) is surrounded by many Japanese media.
- Even though a charging race, many spectators gather for 15th Japan Cup.
- The international race! Spanish Alberto Fernandez (Saunier Duval - Prodir), Guadeloupe Rony Martias (Bouygues Telecom) and Hong Kong Kin San Wu (Lampre - Fondital) .
- Asian Jacky Durand, Koji Fukushima (Team Vang) leads the All Japanese Breakaway.
- Yoshimasa Hirose (Skil-Shimano) passes first the top of mountain.
- Benjamin Noval (Discovery Channel) controls in front of the peloton.
- Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval - Prodir) is a most popular rider in 15th Japan Cup...maybe for girl fans?
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Prodir) waits a opportunity just behind Discovery Channel's riders.
- Polish Sylvester Szmyd (Lampre- Fondital) accelerates the peloton for the final battle.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Prodir) beats Ruggero Marzoli (Lampre-Fondital) in the sprint.
- The photo-finish of 15th Japan Cup (Special thanks to shimamura@matrix and the organizer of Japan Cup).
- The top 3 riders waiting a ceremony Can I get a kiss from podium girls here? -"No idea".
- The new podium for 15th Japan Cup is revealed... the double decker!
- 3 riders of the breakaway gets Mountain Prizes... Yoshimasa Hirose (Skil-Shimano) , Koji Fukushima (Team Vang) and Shinri Suzuki (Miyata - Subaru).
- Changing! ...... the top 3 riders mount to the second decker now.
- The podium (L-R): Ruggero Marzoli (second, Lampre- Fondital) , Riccardo Riccò (winner, Saunier Duval - Prodir) and Vladimir Gusev (third, Discovery Channel).
- Champagne shower in celebration of new champion!
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Prodir) smiles for his second victory as a professional.
Images by MakotoAYANO/www.cyclingtime.com
- Gilberto Simoni's bike on display drew the crowds
- Lampre-Fondital presented
- Discovery Channel presented
- Skil-Shimano presented
- Matteo Algeri with his squadra Saunier Duval-Prodir
- The Bouygues Telecom boys at the start.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) at the start.
- Trent Lowe (Discovery Channel) at the start.
- Riders line up for start of Japan Cup
- Cool sign on the road side
- All sorts of tifosi came to watch the race
- Signs like this were everywhere along the road
- An early escape tries its luck
- Johan Bruyneel drives behind race
- Fumiyuki Beppu (Discovery Channel) talks with teammate by radio
- Wu Kin San (Lampre-Fondital) represents China
- Press were out in large numbers
- Asian and Europeans featured in Japan's biggest one day race
- Myata-Subaru boys ride along
- Lampre and Saunier lead peloton
- Trent Lowe (Discovery Channel) digs
- Fumiyuki Beppu (Discovery Channel) in Japan Champ jersey was a popular favorite
- Japan tifosi enjoy day with some quality wine
- Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval-Prodir) in difficulty end of the leading group
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) moving up to win
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) goes for win
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) nips sprint at line
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) takes win over Ruggero Marzoli (Lampre-Fondital)
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) rides through crowd after win
- The party on the podium for neo-pro Riccò
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) awarded for win in Japan
- Fumiyuki Beppu (Discovery Channel) in Japan Champ jersey talks after the race
Results - 151.3 km
1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.58.18 (38.09 km/h) 2 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel 4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 5 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital 0.10 6 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.41 7 Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Cycle Racing Team Vang 8 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 0.43 9 Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 0.57 10 Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Cycle Racing Team Vang 11 Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 12 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Discovery Channel 13 Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 14 Yasutaka Tashiro (Jpn) Japan National Team 15 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Cycle Racing Team Vang 1.01 16 Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 1.32 17 Kazuya Okazaki (Jpn) Japan National Team 4.18 18 Trent Lowe (Aus) Discovery Channel 4.41 19 Yoshimasa Hirose (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 20 Javier Megias Leal (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 21 Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Myata-Subaru 22 Koji Fukushima (Jpn) Cycle Racing Team Vang 23 Mashahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 4.47 24 Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 4.50 25 Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 26 Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Myata-Subaru 27 Satoshi Hirose (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 28 Kam Po Wong 29 Fuyu Li (Chn) Marco Polo Cycling Team 30 Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Cycle Racing Team Vang 4.54 31 Kazuhiro Mori (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 7.28 32 Makoto Iijima (Jpn) Japan National Team 8.15 33 Atsushi Takano (Jpn) Myata-Subaru 9.21 34 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 35 Kin San Wu (HKg) Purapharm 36 Makoto Nakamura (Jpn) Myata-Subaru 37 Ken Hashikawa (Jpn) Matrix 38 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 39 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 9.25 40 Kuei Shiang Peng (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing Team 12.27 41 Keng Hsien Chen (Tpe) 42 Yusuke Hatanaka (Jpn) Japan National Team 12.56 DNF Tomoya Sano (Jpn) Matrix DNF Alberto Fernández De La Puebla (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir DNF Kazuyuki Manabe (Jpn) Japan National Team DNF Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel DNF Wang Yip Tang (HKg) Purapharm DNF Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom DNF Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team DNF Masahiko Mifune (Jpn) Myata-Subaru DNF Kojiro Nakagawa (Jpn) Matrix DNF Kai Tsun Lam (HKg) Purapharm DNF King Wai Cheung (HKg) Purapharm DNF Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom DNF Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe) DNF Naoki Mukaigawa (Jpn) Matrix DNF Rongxi Zou (Chn)
Past winners
2005 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Caffita
2004 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon
2003 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Lampre
2002 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
2001 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
2000 Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
1999 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi
1998 Fabien De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
1997 Yoshiyuki Abe (Jap) Mapei-GB
1996 Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Team Polti
1995 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita) Carrera Jeans
1994 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita) Carrera Jeans
1993 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita) Carrera Jeans
1992 Hendrik Redant (Bel) Lotto
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
