A first Koto experience for the riders 🎶🇯🇵 #SaitamaCriterium | @saitamacrite
Come and get me: Roglic challenges Cavendish to some Aikido, part of Tour peloton present in Japan
CyclingFriday, 01 November 2024 at 09:20
One part of the peloton is in Japan, where the A.S.O. hosts one of the two major Asian Tour de France criteriums. By default, that includes a media day, where the big stars experience the local culture. This time, Primoz Roglic and Mark Cavendish received the honors.
The Slovenian is returning to productive grounds anyway, as he became Japan's Olympic time trial champion in 2021. Roglic decided just a few weeks ago to skip the Tour of Lombardy after winning the Vuelta. Still, after a stay in Slovenia, he has already traveled to Japan for the Tour de France criterium.
Cavendish is also there as a "legend." Regarding stage victories in the Tour de France, the record holder tried out the martial art of Aikido and was challenged by Roglic. After that, he, Chris Froome, Yukiya Arashiro, and ambassador Marcel Kittel received a Koto experience from the local organization.
In addition to Roglic and Cavendish, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and green jersey winner Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) will also be in Japan, where the Saitama Criterium has been held for a decade. dsm-firmenich PostNL is sending Romain Bardet and John Degenkolb, while local hero Arashiro has Pello Bilbao at his side.
Anthony Turgis, the winner of this year's gravel stage at the Tour, is leading the TotalEnergies team, while Froome, Ben O'Connor, and Victor Campenaerts are forming the TdF Legends team together for the occasion as part of the criterium that will be held on Saturday, November 2.
Videos: Roglic and Cavendish enjoy Japanese culture at Saitama Criterium
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024