reclaim the roads

we headed over to fukai today for the 1st stage of the tour of japan. before things get scenic, the riders experience the smooth tarmac of a new town area near kansai ariport. the speed was high and the temperature too - not helped by all the concrete.

it was a circuit course so the anticipation of seeing the race car preceeding the pack, and sometimes breakaways, made it enough of a spectator sport for others. it was a semi-cosmopolitan peleton with the aussie national team and 3 pro teams: this tour is certainly developing into a slightly more recognised event.

todays 140 clicks was won by matt goss (was he not in bros?) a young whipper snapper from the australian team. we headed off for ramen eventually as there is only so many times you can watch a blur of bodies whizz by you at 30 miles an hour. good fun though.