First and most significantly right here is the You Tube hyperlink to the race, which I presume might be in Japanese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtkxMl4QA08

14 laps round this race course:

I discover this race to be very entertaining even with struggling to determine the riders. (Right here is the hyperlink to PCS’ startlist which you must hold helpful: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/japan-cup/2024/startlist

It’s climby sufficient so the winners should be in respectable kind, plus the end line shouldn’t be on the prime of the climb so it’s potential for somebody with out a nice punch can win it, once more if their kind is nice. Additionally EF/Vaughters takes this race significantly which appears to boost the seriousness for the opposite groups and after it’s over I are inclined to assume that I want I may see these riders race a couple of extra days over this course.

Latest winder do are typically climby guys however not completely: Mollema has received it twice, Rui Costa, Powless, Nathan Hass, Marco Canola. Usually the race ends in a small uphill bunch dash which isn’t one thing we see each race.

So who to look out for

• EF riders, particularly Powless and Archie Ryan, each of whom appear to be in good kind. Additionally they have Steinhauser and Nerurkar as again up so good group for this race.
• Lidi Trek can be bringing some warmth with Mad Pedersen together with Bagioli and Skuijns, who received the crit race, all of whom may deliver the win residence.
• Bahrain has Mohoric and Zambanini
• Jayco has Simon Proper Yates and Mauro Schmid who was second within the crit race
• Israel has Michael Woods, who has are available in second earlier than.
• That is additionally Yukiya Arashiro’s final race of his profession having turned 40 final month.

So who do I believe?