The UCI2.2 class stage race “Tour de Kumano” begins in Kozagawa-cho, Wakayama Prefecture. The first stage was a bunch sprint and was won by John Carter (Cash Par Kupp, Australia). Last year’s overall champion Atsushi Oka came in 2nd place, and Daiki Yamamoto (both from JCL Team Ukyo) came in 3rd place.
Path that runs along the Koza River photo: Satoru Kato
Today’s kanji is “river” photo: Satoru KatoThe monolith, a nationally designated natural monument, is gigantic, measuring 150 m high and 800 m wide ©︎TOUR de KUMANO 2024
This year’s Tour de Kumano will be revived as a 3-stage, 3-day race with a new stage in the city of Kozagawa. The event will be held about a month before.
The first stage was 126.7 km, made up of three laps of a 42.6 km route along the Koza River which flows through the southern prefecture of Wakayama. The climbing section includes a Class 3 mountain and a sprint point is located in front of a monolith that is a nationally designated natural monument.
A mountainous area that is dark even during the day photo: Satoru Kato
A one-day race was planned last year, but was canceled due to bad weather, so this year it was held for the first time (the route was changed from the race held in the Japan Cycle League).
Attack and absorption are repeated immediately after the real starting photo: Satoru Kato
The first group was controlled by the Kinan Racing Team photo: Satoru Kato
There will be a total of 16 participating teams, 5 from overseas and 11 from Japan. The race started at 9.30am, when the sky was clear and blue and the temperature was starting to rise. From the beginning there have been repeated attacks and absorptions. However, there are few players who are attuned to the jumping motion, so this is not a lasting escape.
Benjamin Prades (VC Fukuoka, center of photo) and Kai Kobayashi (Matrix Power Tag, left of photo) competing for the mountaineering first prize photo: Satoru Kato
Benjamin Prades (VC Fukuoka) and Kai Kobayashi (Matrix Power Tag) will compete for the mountain prize from the first round. Prades moved to first place in the first race, and Kobayashi moved to first place in the second and third races. Kobayashi secured the mountain prize on the first day.
In the uphill section of the final lap, the pace picks up with Matrix Power Tag in the main photo: Satoru Kato
The group was narrowed down to about 30 people in the final round photo: Satoru Kato
The group progressed without any major breakdowns until the end of the second lap, and as they entered the third lap, Matrix Power Tag began to take control. After the climbing section, the group split and about 30 people took the lead, and the gap between them and those behind them increased to over 1 minute. The battle turned into a sprint between the leading groups and John Carter (Cash Par Kupp) won by winning the wheel throw.
A sprint race with a narrow margin ©️TOUR de KUMANO 2024
John Carter (Cash Par Kupp) wins the sprint and wins ©️TOUR de KUMANO 2024
Commentary by John Carter
“Thanks to the good work of the team in the final sprint of the group, we managed to win. I am happy to be able to win for the first time with this team. I want to keep this leader’s jersey from tomorrow onwards.”
Photo of the awards ceremony of the first stage of the Tour de Kumano: Satoru Kato
John Carter (Cash Par Kupp) won the individual overall, rookie award and points award photo: Satoru Kato The mountain award went to Kai Kobayashi (Matrix Power Tag) photo: Satoru Kato
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