There were multiple attacks on this day. Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan) won the first citizen’s 200km race with his physical ability that clearly overwhelmed the other athletes. It has been 10 years since he won his first citizen’s 140km race in Okinawa, achieving his dream. A new champion has been born at Hobby Race Koshien. 220 people in the citizen 200km race shout “Chibariyo!” in unison before the start. Photo: Makoto AYANO
Rainy Tour de Okinawa. The weather forecast for the day is that it will continue to rain throughout the morning, with a low temperature of 14 degrees. It was cold, uncharacteristic of a subtropical climate. Although it didn’t get too cold, the low perceived temperature held the key to the outcome of the race.
Ryohiro Takaoka calmly talks about his aspirations in an interview before the start (Roppongi Express) Photo: Makoto AYANOMtFuji Hill Climb 2022 champion Akira Manabe (EMU SPEED CLUB) is also participating for the first time (second from the left)
Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan) arrives at the starting line with a nervous look on his face.Kenichi Masuda (Team SHIDO Works) is participating in Okinawa for the 31st time.
The citizen 210km race started at 7:23. 220 hobby racers who had been training hard for this day lined up at the starting line in Nago City. Ryohiro Takaoka (Roppongi Express), who is on track for his 8th win in total and his “second 3-consecutive victory”, was the last to arrive and lined up in the front row. He answered the interview with MC Garapa without straining, but there is no doubt that he is in good shape due to his toned body, his strength from the previous week, and his good time at the TT.
A group of 220 people starting the 200km race in a light rain. Photo: Makoto AYANO
The expressions on the faces of all the players who shouted “Chibariyo!” in unison conveyed the feelings that each of them had placed on this day. Alan Marangoni (Italy), the 2018 international champion race winner, also participated in the project for a documentary program produced by GCN Italy.
2018 international race champion Alan Marangoni (Italy) participates in the race as planned by GCN Photo: Makoto AYANO
As soon as we passed through the Nago city area in the neutral section, we were immediately attacked, and escape groups were formed sporadically. For the time being, the three were allowed to escape, passing through the Churaumi Aquarium via Motobu Ohashi Bridge.
The real start through Nago city. It’s dark and rain droplets are dancing photo: Makoto AYANO
The lead group is restless after heading out to Motobu Peninsula. Attacks occur frequently photo: Makoto AYANO
Group of citizens 200km race heading towards Motobu Bridge photo: Makoto AYANO
A three-person race led by Iori Kishimoto (men’s road race team) was formed on the Motobu Peninsula. Photo: Makoto AYANO
After passing through the Motobu Peninsula, the rain became heavier, sapping the body heat from the athletes as they made their way north along the long coastline. Ryohiro Takaoka (Roppongi Express) was also in the lead for the first time on the “Yona no Saka” up to the Fukugawa Dam. After the halfway point, Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan), Akira Manabe (EMU SPEED CLUB) and others set a high pace, and the group quickly became long and long.
First time on Yonanosaka. When Fuji Hill Champ Akira Manabe (EMU SPEED CLUB) pulls, the group stretches into a stick. Photo: Makoto AYANO
After completing the inner lap including Cape Hedo, the number of people in the group decreased due to natural selection until the second time on Yonano Slope, but after crossing the “Gakko Slope” after descending, the group set a high pace. It was Ryo Inoue. Inoue breaks out of the group of about 25 people. And here, Ryohiro Takaoka is surprisingly late.
Ryohiro Takaoka (Roppongi Express) started to fall behind due to the high pace on “Gakkozaka” Photo: Makoto AYANO
Takaoka is said to be strong against heat but weak against cold. He runs after her with his vest on, but his expression is grim. Without giving up, he regained his speed and continued chasing, but he was unable to catch up to the group that had picked up the pace after chasing Inoue, who had broken out of the group.
Ryo Inoue breaks out of school slope and runs on his own (Magellan Systems Japan) photo: Makoto AYANO
Inoue also separated the group for more than two minutes and started running alone, but the group’s will was united, recognizing that it was a dangerous move that could allow him to escape, and Inoue was caught just as he reached the coastline of Higashi Village. However, the high pace in this section destroyed Takaoka’s chances of returning to the group. There was a distance that I could no longer catch up with. Takaoka’s chances for a second three-peat victory were dashed here.
The main group of citizens in the 200km race along the famous coastline photo: Makoto AYANO
Keita Iwashima (MIVRO) and Ryo Nishitani (ACTIVIKE) broke out of the group that was once regrouped after passing Keisatsugu, but were able to break out of the group with Arime. Then, on the second slope, Nishitani became alone and was behind him for about 30 seconds, but on the Kayo slope, Ryo Inoue picked up the pace again. Akira Manabe (EMU SPEED CLUB), Hitoshi Nakazato (Rapha Cycling Club), Kazuo Inoue (Balba Cycle Racing Team), and Itsuki Koide (Men’s Road Race Club) follow, but Inoue’s strength stands out on the climbs.
Ryo Nishitani (ACTIVIKE) showed his strength. Breaking away from the group and going solo Photo: Makoto AYANO
Ryo Inoue picks up his pace again on Arume no Slope (Magellan Systems Japan) photo: Makoto AYANO
Inoue, Manabe, and Nakazato headed for the gentle up-and-down section from Kanucha Bay to Oura. By the time they reached Oura Bay, the others caught up with them, but once the climb started, the three of them started fighting again.
The battle was narrowed down to Akira Manabe, Ryo Inoue, and Hitoshi Nakazato after Haneji’s climb. Photo: Makoto AYANO
The biggest challenge in the final stage is the climb to the Haneji double tunnel. As Inoue and Manabe lined up and set a fast pace, sometimes bumping into each other, Nakazato couldn’t help but drop in front of the Bankoshi tunnel. Inoue relentlessly increased his pace from there, and Manabe was also thrown off by the Agariel Tunnel.
Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan) and Akira Manabe (EMU SPEED CLUB) climb Haneji, bumping shoulders. Photo: Makoto AYANO
As if to motivate himself, Inoue shouted, “Yoshi! I’m going to win!” and continued to hit a high cadence towards the top. In front of that momentum, Manabe, the overall winner of the 2022 Mt. Fuji Hill Climb, was no match for him, and the gap had widened.
Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan) outsmarts Akira Manabe and takes the lead. Photo: Makoto AYANO
Inoue, running solo for the second time that day, made it through the downhill of Orion-zaka and into the city of Nago with a decisive lead.
Citizen race 200km winner Ryo Inoue (Magellan Systems Japan) photo: Satoru Kato
Inoue, who jumped solo to the finish line on Route 56, cried as he crossed the finish line with his fist raised. He won his first title in the Tour de Okinawa Citizens’ 200km Race, also known as the “Hobby Race Koshien”.
A number of athletes were suffering from hypothermia after getting cold due to the rain. It was a grueling race in which 220 people started and 60 had DNF. In everyone’s eyes, the race was won by the strongest rider on the day, but Inoue kept saying, “I can’t believe it.” Ten years ago, Inoue won his first citizen’s 140km race in 2013 and fell in love with road races, or rather, the Tour de Okinawa.This is the pinnacle he has reached over the past 10 years.
Citizen race 200km award ceremony photo: Satoru Kato
Inoue is a 39-year-old doctor with an unparalleled love for sports. “This is my first major title as I have competed in various sports such as rowing and triathlon.Until now, even though I had achieved decent results in other sports, I had never won a competition that I really wanted to win.It was a dream come true for me. Winning the Citizens’ 200km race was something I had never seen before.I can’t believe it is now mine.”
Achieved my wish. Although he suffered a major decline in his health during the summer, he recovered in the fall and entered this day in good shape by participating in triathlons and other events. “My body wasn’t as strong as it could be, but that might have been a good thing in this rainy race. I think it was also a good thing that I was eating a lot of supplements.”
Akira Manabe, who was in second place with a 23-second difference, is afraid of descents, so he says, “I usually only do hill climbs and don’t participate in road races,” and this is the first time he has met Inoue other than on Zwift.
“In the end, I lost emotionally to Mr. Inoue. It was cool to see Mr. Inoue regaining his strength and stepping forward. I think the difference lies in the amount of effort we put into it. I think this will be the final battle for Haneji to climb.” I thought so, but it wasn’t a match.”
Although he was delayed due to two consecutive tunnels, Hitoshi Nakazato maintained his 3rd place on the podium.
“I thought that if we persevered until the end and made it to the sprint, we would definitely win.Looking at the top members, if we could make it to the end, we would win.There was no need for me to narrow down the number of players or attack in the middle, I thought I could attack if there was some free time in the section beyond the Koshi tunnel.But Mr. Inoue’s legs were about 1.5 times faster than mine.It was a difference in endurance ability.”
Jin Nakazato is late climbing Haneji with a grim expression (Rapha Cycling Club) photo: Makoto AYANO
Ryohiro Takaoka, who was unable to continue winning, finished in 18th place, 9 minutes and 27 seconds behind. When he appeared at the award ceremony venue, he congratulated Inoue.
“I simply missed Inoue’s pace up on Gakkozaka today.I was feeling really good, but the cold took its toll.Even when I looked back at the maximum heart rate data later, I couldn’t raise my heart rate enough. I haven’t had a good result in a cold, rainy race in the past, so I have to admit that I’m not good at cold weather.In the past, I’ve been on the podium 10 times (7 wins, 3 2nd places). The reason why the numbers are so high is because Okinawa has an everlasting summer.It’s because the races were held in the heat without exception.”
Ryohiro Takaoka congratulates Ryo Inoue. “I guess he didn’t cool down because he had body fat.” photo: Makoto AYANO
Will you try again next year? In response to this question, Takaoka answered as follows.
“I don’t feel like I can beat Inoue-kun’s run today. Inoue-kun is 39 years old. I’ve won five times since I was 40 years old, so considering that, I don’t think it’s possible anymore, but I’m sure it will be next year as well.” I’ll try. No, I’ll definitely come back.”
2023-11-13 06:42:02
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