Here’s a look at Mikuni pass in Japan. It’s not famous but it should be the decisive climb of the 2020 Olympic road race, if only for the men, so here are some notes in this climb outside Tokyo which offers double-digit gradients and if that doesn’t take your breath away then the views of Mount Fuji will… as long as the weather’s fine.
This is repost from February 2019 in order to take a closer look at hardest climb of men’s Olympic road race
As part of the series looking at roads featuring in major races, here’s a look at Yamabushi pass. Neither household name, nor familiar in the peloton, this is the first major climb of the 2020 Olympic road races and an ideal day’s ride out of Tokyo too.
The on-stage antics and the exhibition criterium get all the attention but what if the real story was the huge crowds? Cycling is big in Japan and there’s an army of loyal fans. The only thing missing is a prime local road race.
Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, the Muur van Geraardsbergen… the Kogashi Forest. You probably know the first three so here’s a closer look at a mountain road that’s packed with passionate, knowledgeable fans when the Japan Cup comes along.
There’s something wrong with a foreign start of a grand tour. The Giro starting in the Netherlands is the equivalent of ordering a pizza with toppings of herring and gouda. Yet each time these foreign starts happen they’re a success enjoyed by thousands.
Rouleur or ronin? Likeable BBox-Bouygues Télécom rider Yukiya Arashiro is increasingly popular in Japan. Having just finished the Giro, with a third place on one stage, he is now available as a plastic toy in Japan. Photo: cyclismag.com