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National champs dominate on sandy curcuit

By Kei Tsuji

Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor)
Photo ©: Hideaki Takagi

Japan's only UCI category two cyclo-cross race held on the shores of Lake Biwa. Five time Japanese champion, Keiichi Tsujiura took out the men's event while current women's national champion, Ayako Toyooka, who has been busy racing a number of world cup races this season took out the womens event.

Held on Miami beach, the 51 strong field of men set off on the grueling sandy course, with many opting to ride on the harder sand found in the water where available.

Shortly after the start, Tsujiura's attack left the rest of the field merely to watch the national champions jersey ride away from them. Behind, two riders from Suwako Racing, Atsushi Maruyama and Masanori Kosaka chased hard, but the gap grew gradually. Masahiko Mifune (Matrix Powertag) recovered from a poor start, passing all but Tsujiura top finish a strong second.

The furious pace set by Tsujiura, who is now aiming to attend some World Cup and Super prestige events, was such that only 14 riders were able to finish. could reach the finish. The champion declared a strong motivation for coming World Cup and Superprestige races.

Current women's national champion, Ayako Toyooka, fresh from racing the World cup rounds in Europe, was too strong for the women's field showing her experience by soloing to finish.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Hideaki Takagi

• National champion Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) before the start.
• Soon after the start Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) leads.
• The pack rides in Miami beach.
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) jumps away.
• Atsushi Maruyama (Suwako Racing) chasing.
• Riders struggling on the beach.
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor).
• Atsushi Maruyama (Suwako Racing) with Yu Takenouchi behind.
• Matrix Powertag professional rider Masahiko Mifune.
• Katsunori Irie (Shimano Drinking).
• Masashi Matsui (Shimano Drinking).
• Daisuke Yano (Independent Fabrication).
• Shinji Kubo (Foobar Network).
• Seigo Yamamoto (Kai Racing).
• Yudai Izawa (Bee Club).
• Hiroshi Funaoka (Testach Racing).
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) cruising.
• Masahiko Mifune (Matrix Powertag) chasing Tsujiura.
• Kentaro Eshita (Team M/X Salsa).
• Ikemoto Shinya (Wakokiki).
• Masahiko Mifune (Matrix Powertag) rides in the water.
• Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing).
• Ikemoto Shinya (Wakokiki).
• MTB rider Yu Takenouchi (Trek).
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor).
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) finishes solo.
• Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) on the podium.
• The podium (l-r): Masahiko Mifune (Matrix Powertag), Keiichi Tsujiura (Bridgestone Anchor) , Masanori Kosaka (Suwako Racing).
• Current national champion Ayako Toyooka.
• Ayako Toyooka finishes comfortably.
• The podium (l-r): Michiko Shimura (Equipe Azumino), Ayako Toyooka, Kaoru Fukai (BMC).
• Ayako Toyooka and her winning bike.

Results

Elite men

1 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor                1.08.39
2 Masahiko Mifune (Jpn) Matrix Powertag                       2.05
3 Masanori Kosaka (Jpn) Suwako Racing                         2.21
4 Atsushi Maruyama (Jpn) Suwako Racing                        2.26
5 Ikemoto Shinya (Jpn) Wakokiki                               2.35
6 Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Trek                                    2.51
7 Kentaro Eshita (Jpn) Team M/X Salsa                         3.30
8 Seigo Yamamoto (Jpn) Kai Racing                             4.47
9 Katsunori Irie (Jpn) Shimano Drinking                       4.53
10 Yudai Izawa (Jpn) Bee Club                                 5.15
11 Daisuke Yano (Jpn) Independent Fabrication                 7.36
12 Hiroshi Funaoka (Jpn) Testach Racing                       8.13
13 Shinji Kubo (Jpn) Foobar Network                           8.28
14 Masashi Matsui (Jpn) Shimano Drinking                      9.37

Elite women

1 Ayako Toyooka (Jpn)                                         37.23
2 Michiko Shimura (Jpn) Equipe Azumino                         2.01
3 Kaoru Fukai (Jpn) BMC                                        6.16
4 Waka Isaka (Jpn) Cowboy                                      6.29
5 Sayaka Sato (Jpn) bicinoko.com                               6.34
6 Yukari Nakamura (Jpn) Nakagawa A.S.K' Design                 7.42
7 Tamami Kubota (Jpn) Strada R                                 9.11
8 Tomoka Iwata (Jpn) Club Silbest                             10.50

Past Winners

2006 Keiichi Tsujiura (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor