It's the talk of the town, and it's on everyone's lips, it's the fifteenth edition of the Tour of Japan. The race starts on Sunday, the 20th of May, 2012. After a hiatus in 2011, the race has returned in its full grandeur and promises to deliver with a bang. Eight more days of waiting with bated breath for the cycling carnival to begin.

The biggest draw? Why, it's Jono Lovelock himself. All the best Jono, and to your mob at Genesys. Looks a mental strong team indeed.

Just a poignant reminder for those of us with short memories, the Tour of Japan 2011 was cancelled due to the earthquake and tsunami.

Stage 1, Sakai-

The great tool known as Google translate gives you a picture of what's to come, vaguely, if at all-
The opening of the Tour of Japan, but the first stage in Sakai, Osaka.
Individual time trial format you are using the course to orbit the Daisen Park near the mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku from the 13th Annual Meeting of 2009, this time one by one the players ran 2.65km this course of about a week, that compete for time Race will be held at. The time difference to arrive easily take a few seconds, such as wind direction and perpendicular lines in the corners of the day, will be able to see the race with a sense of urgency from day one. Overall # 1 may be determined by a hundredth of a second!


Stage 2, Mino-

Flat, except for one, not very noteworthy, bump. High point 210m.

Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, which is known to the roof of the old town called "Ken window (Udatsu)" and the decoration (the original fire wall) can be seen. It comes from the "will not increase Udatsu" this is. The start of the race ran the parade from the center of town, and entering the course laps over the Nagara River. This course before and after the tunnel and go up and down mountain Oyada, which is a point, flat road along the river that combine work, reputation and role model for road race course is high, pleasing the audience is different every time deployment. This year in Gifu Prefecture, Gifu National Athletic Meet will be held clear stream.


Stage 3, Minami Shinshu-


9th Annual Meeting in 2005, became the tournament remain in the history of all stages TOJ has used the public road. Shinshu south course it made its debut this year, which was the origin of the Iida City, Nagano Prefecture. Parade will start from the station Iida JR, in the course of laps Shimohisakata district is willing to Yuku race among the traditional Japanese mountain village landscape indeed. Less flat, by the wayside of course that is configured in the uplink and downlink is severe, who rushed to support work and rest the hands of local people. Finish line ahead of the straight path of 1.5km laps off the course, are provided in the comprehensive playground Matsuo.


Stage 4, Fujisan-


Tight with a gradient not stand out even in the shadow of three main climb Mount Fuji, Fuji thistle line. All players suffer from the slope gradient of about 10% discount on average, a maximum gradient of 22% will participate, five years from the adoption of the course had become a stage individual time trial. From the 14th Annual Meeting in 2010 will be mass start road race, which only 11.4km race despite harsh. If Megumarere in good weather, from the fifth mouth Subashiri of finish should be able to point overlooking the snow still left the top of Mt.


Stage 5, Izu-


Undulating between 270 and 370m.
In Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, 5km circuit of Japan Cycle Sports Center was completed in 1965. Was usually a combination of this circuit and the surrounding road management that can also run the general population, but of course special TOJ 12.2km. Upstream and downstream from the course will be repeated earnestly but distant view of Mount Fuji is ran the day before, in the eyes of the players does not turn on. Runaway or outrun players better than strength, or bet on the game to last up let me say something to the team power. Overall struggle for us players, it's almost become a last chance this stage of Izu.

Stage 6, Tokyo-

Profile- pretty much flat at 6m above mean sea level.

Decorate the Chobi of TOJ, double-stage to start the Hibiya Tokyo. The players lined up as the pit from the team Hibiya Hibiya Park, flying out like a bullet and finish the parade of just 1.2km. Looking at the athletes slide into 3-chome, turn left at the intersection of the street in front of the Zojoji lawn, people must have moved office. Oi course is almost flat laps of the pier, a large crowd held our breath watching the intense sprint goal. In the ceremony of Pier Park hill harbor, green jersey of glory is given to the player and decided the overall winner.


Awful grammar thanks to google. Profiles, thanks to some arse grating by me.

CHAMPION SYSTEM PRO CYCLING TEAM
1 BUTLER Chris USA
2 CLARKE Will  AUS
3 XU Gang CHN
4 JIAO Peng Da MAS
5 OTHMAN Adiq  MAS
6 LIU Biao  CHN

Team Director- WHERRY Christopher USA

This season the Chinese Hong-Kong based team, first among Asian teams, has been promoted to the status of second-division pro-continental team. The team, with Jaan KIRSIPUU, an Estonian sprinter boasting of more than 160 total victories as captain, is competing worldwide.

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Amore & Vita
1  AVERIN Maksym UKR
2 MOREN Patrik SWE
3 YOVCHEV Yovcho BUL
4 DABROWSKI Jaroslaw POL
5 LUKSEVICS Viesturs LAT
6 PALANDRI Marino  ITA

Team director- GIORGINI Maurizio / ITA

MECHANIC- POMIETLO Michal / POL

MASSEUR- RUFFILI Filippo / ITA

Since 1948 European team, Amore & Vita, have an in excess of 7000 victories and have produced 12 World Champions. The team offers young riders many training opportunities. Also Amore & Vita are participating in this year's Tour of Japan after an absence since the third edition of the tour.

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GENESYS WEALTH ADVISERS
RIDERS
1 PATRICK Shaw / AUS
2 FLAKEMORE Campbell / AUS
3 EARLE Nathan / AUS
4 LOVELOCK Jonathan AUS
5 GIACOPPO Anthony AUS
6 MARWOOD Kyle / AUS

TEAM MANAGER- CHRISTIE-JOHNSTON Andrew / AUS

MECHANIC- GREIVE-JOHNSON Benjamin AUS

MASSEUR- NUNN Gregory / AUS

If you're still not in the know about this team, then it's not worth it. They're ace, nuff said.

Spoiler (hover to show)

Google translate does know how to mutilate a name-
Show a Patrick
More flakes Campbell
Nathan are
Jonathan Lovelock, disappointed with that outcome
Anthony Jakoppo
Kyle Mauddo

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TERENGGANU CYCLING TEAM
RIDERS
1  JANG Chan Jae - KOR　
2 AZIZ Mohd Saiful Anuar   MAS
3 FUKUSHIMA Shinichi   JPN
4  MAT AMIN Mohd Shahrul  MAS
5  ROSDI Mohd Nor Umardi   MAS
6 MAZUKI Nur Amirull Fakhruddin   MAS


TEAM MANAGER- RUSLAN Mohd Jasmin   MAS

MECHANIC- WAN AHMAD Wan Mohd Nazri   MAS

MASSEUR- AHMAD Shahuddin   MAS

You've not followed the Asian threads if you don't know Terengganu cycling team. If you're new to it, here's an intro-
This rapidly growing team is a symbol of Malaysian popularity of road cycling races. Team captain, Shinichi FUKUSHIMA, the first Japanese winner of the individual general classification (2004) leads the team through his aggressive racing. The team contains many strong sprinters in particular Malaysian Harrif SALLEH who is to be noticed.

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OCBC SINGAPORE CONTINENTAL CYCLING TEAM
RIDERS
1 LOH Sea Keong   MAS
2 LOW Darren   SIN
3 LOW Ji Wen   SIN
4 GOH Choon Huat   SIN
5 ANUAWAR Ahmad Haidar   MAS
6 SQUILLARI Nicholas Francesco   AUS

TEAM MANAGER- CHEONG Justin  SIN

MECHANIC- DECH Tana  THA

MASSEUR- SOH Alan  SIN

This season, OCBC SINGAPORE CONTINENTAL CYCLING TEAM started as the first Singaporean UCI continental team with Singaporean, Malaysian and Australian riders, including many young talents. They're aiming good result in international races held in Asia.

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HONG KONG TEAM
RIDERS
1 WONG Kam Po / HKG
2 YEUNG Ying Hon Ronald / HKG
3 CHEUNG King Lok / HKG
4 CHEUNG King Wai / HKG
5 CHAN Yat Wai / HKG
6 KWOK Ho Ting / HKG

 TEAM MANAGER- TSANG Kai Ming / HKG

MECHANIC- MENG Hao / CHN

MASSEUR- YIP Chi Hang / HKG

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AISAN RACING TEAM
RIDERS
1 NIpooANI Taiji / JPN
2 SUZUKI Kenichi / JPN
3 SHINAGAWA　Masahiro / JPN
4 FUKUDA Shimpei / JPN
5 ITO Masakazu / JPN
6 KIMORI Nozomu / JPN

TEAM MANAGER  BEPPU Takumi / JPN

MECHANIC  NAKAJIMA Yasuhito / JPN

MASSEUR  AKABOSHI Taro / JPN

With the aim of winning the first Asian ranking, AISAN RACING TEAM is aggressively participating in international races held in Asia. The team has achieved satisfactory results in the rapidly growing Asian races. As of end of February,team leader, Taiji NIpooANI, has been ranked first in the UCI Asia Tour individual ranking status.

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BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR
RIDERS
1  LEBAS Thomas / FRA
2  SHIMIZU Miyataka / JPN
3 SYS Klaas / BEL
4  ITAMI Kenji / JPN
5  NISHIZONO Ryota / JPN
6  SONNERY Blaise / JPN

TEAM MANAGER-  KUBO Nobuhito / JPN

MECHANIC- KANADA Tadashi / JPN

MASSEUR- AMI Masayuki / JPN

This season the team has added to its roster Belgian and French cyclists as well as maintaining its existing contingent of strong Japanese cyclists, Miyataka SHIMIZU, Kazuo INOUE, and Ryota NISHIZONO. The team has relocated to France and is participating in European races while maintaining its long term objective of racing in Tour de France.

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CANNONDALE SPACEZEROPOINT
RIDERS
1 SUZUKI Shinri / JPN
2 KOMURO Masanari / JPN
3 TAKADA Yuta / JPN
4 HARAKAWA Kosuke / JPN
5 OKA Yasumasa / JPN
6  ENDO Sekiho / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- SATO Shigehiko / JPN

MECHANIC- IWAMI Takahiro / JPN

MASSEUR- Otani Hiroki / JPN

Shinri SUZUKI captains the CANNONDALE SPACEZEROPOINT team, he was the Japanese national champion in 2004 as well as the Asian champion in 2003 and 2004. One of the core philosophies of the team is to foster younger riders so that they can increase their racing experiences. The team’s main sponsor is CANNONDALE, a renowned American bicycle brand.

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MATRIX POWERTAG
RIDERS
1 WIESIAK Mriusz / POL
2 YAMApooA Takahiro / JPN
3 KOMAKI Yuya / JPN
4 YASUHARA Daiki / JPN
5 IKEBE Sota / JPN
6 MANABE Kazuyuki / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- YASUHARA Masahiro / JPN

MECHANIC- NAKAGAWA Koujirou / JPN

MASSEUR- UEDA Makoto / JPN
MATRIX POWERTAG is an Osaka-based team mainly sponsored by the MATRIX Co. engaged in measurements of sporting events including cycling road races. The team consists of talented cyclists represented by Kazuyuki MANABE, a veteran cyclist who was a member of the Japanese cycling team for Atlanta Olympic Games. The team aims to light up the Tour by its aggressive racing style.

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SHIMANO RACING TEAM

RIDERS
1 HATANAKA　Yusuke / JPN
2 SUZUKI Yuzuru / JPN
3 HIRATSUKA Yoshimitsu / JPN
4 IRIBE Shotaro / JPN
5 NONAKA Ryoma / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- NODERA Hidenori / JPN

MECHANIC- OKUBO Syuichi / JPN

MASSEUR- NARUSHIMA Takashi / JPN
This is one of the most traditional teams in Japan, and it is owned by SHIMANO INC., a bicycle parts manufacturer based in Sakai City, Osaka. In 2011, Yusuke HATANAKA, the team leader won the Japanese domestic race series J protour on four occasions as well as the annual series championship. As one of the strongest Japanese teams SHIMANO confronts foreign teams.

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TEAM NIPPO
RIDERS
1 AREDONDO MORENO Julian / COL
2 BALIANI Fortunato / ITA
3 RICHEZE Maximiliano / ARG
4 RICHEZE Mauro abel / ARG
5 SANO Junya / JPN
6 UCHIMA Kohei / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- DAIMON Hiroshi / JPN

MECHANIC- NISHI TSUTOMU / JPN

MASSEUR- SAITO MEGUMI / JPN
The Italian based multinational team. They offer Japanese riders many training opportunities. The team, with Fortunato BALIANI, an Italian veteran rider as captain, Junya SANO who specialized climber and the Argentine Richeze brothers who are both excellent as sprint, is aiming the best result by employing its teamwork fostered through European races.

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TEAM UKYO
RIDERS
1 KANO Tomoya / JPN
2 SHIMIZU Yoshiyuki / JPN
3 TSUJI Yoshimitsu / JPN
4 SAITO Shota / JPN
5 SHIMADA Yoshiaki / JPN
6 WAKASUGI Keisuke / JPN

TEAM MANAGER-  KATAYAMA Ukyo / JPN

MECHANIC- NAGAI Toshiaki / JPN

MASSEUR-NAKANO Manabu / JPN

The first year since its inception, TEAM UKYO is guided by former Japanese F1 driver (Ukyo KAYAYAMA) as director and the first Japanese cyclist to participate in Tour de France (Daisuke IMANAKA) as technical adviser. Additionally, the team consists of many talented cyclists including Yoshimitsu TSUJI who is one of the leading sprinters in Japan with the ambition of being one of the top cyclists in the world.

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UTSUNOMIYA BLITZEN
RIDERS
1 HIROSE Yoshimasa / JPN
2 FUKUHARA Masaru / JPN
3 NAKAMURA Makoto / JPN
4 Nariyuki / JPN
5 HATSUYAMA Sho / JPN
6 IINO Tomoyuki / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- KURIMURA Osamu / JPN

MECHANIC- HARIGAI Takayuki / JPN

MASSEUR- TAKAHASHI Hideaki / JPN
Based in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Pref., this team has a slogan of community-based activity. The team whose local reputation has been gaining year after year has increased the popularity of cycling road races in Japan. This year is the fourth season for the team, which has grown up to one of the top-ranking teams in Japan.

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PEARLIZUMI SUMITA RAVANELLO
RIDERS
1 TOGAO Taichi / JPN
2 OKUBO Jin / JPN
3 UEMURA Ryosuke / JPN
4 TAKATSUKA Ryosuke / JPN
5 FUJIOKA Katsuma / JPN
6 SUZUKI Motonari / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- TAKAMURA Seiichi / JPN

MECHANIC- SAITO Kengo / JPN

MASSEUR- TAKAMURA Kayoko / JPN


PEARLIZUMI SUMITA RAVANELLO is local club team sponsored by the Takamura Works, a bicycle shop in Tokyo. Traditionally, this is one of Japan’s most highly competent team producing a number of excellent world-class cyclists. Performance of non-professional racers in the team is also worth seeing.

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UNIVERSITY ALL JAPAN
RIDERS
1 YAMAMOTO Genki / JPN
2 KUROEDA Shiki / JPN
3 KIMURA Keisuke / JPN
4 OHNAKA Kohki / JPN
5 YASUI Masahiko / JPN
6 YAMAMOTO Shun / JPN

TEAM MANAGER- MIYAKE Syuichiro / JPN

MECHANIC- MUGIKURA Yosuke / JPN

MASSEUR- YASUDA Ayaka / JPN
The team comprises of U23 Japan national champion, Genki YAMAMOTO (National Institute of Fitness and Sports in KANOYA), as well as Shiki KUROEDA and Masaki AMEMIYA who both are top-class student racers. This team of Japanese amateur university racers has rapidly improved their competition level and is willing to challenge domestic and foreign professional cyclists.

Looks to be some strong riders in the field. CSS have Clarke riding.
Hopefully should be able to get some ood updates, Nick from ocbc usually gives post race updates

Had to double check i had not got than wrong. Never seen something like that before

Great Idea though

image the sprint into the hill

1 km in blokes exploding everywhere  8)

Will be like a cyclo cross start

wow.  gonna be an interesting stage that one   ;D

Damn, lots of posts already.

Mt Fuji, Mass start Road race. Ugh!!!

Aye, isn't it a regular feature in the Tour of Japan? Good luck with that, should be mayhem.

Damn, lots of posts already.
Aye, isn't it a regular feature in the Tour of Japan? Good luck with that, should be mayhem.

you need to put placemarkers in when you create a thread.. just chuck 3-4 blank posts in to go back to later

this appears to be the climb in question.. few bits of video from the time trial in 2007..



Gutted theres no Endura Racing (i think rapha did this race a few years ago), Johnny Teirnan Locke would have eaten mount fuji for breakfast, spat it out, and eaten it all over again

this appears to be the climb in question.. few bits of video from the time trial in 2007..



Gutted theres no Endura Racing (i think rapha did this race a few years ago), Johnny Teirnan Locke would have eaten mount fuji for breakfast, spat it out, and eaten it all over again

Would've loved to have seen how Torckler went up this climb, seems to have some brilliant stamina does he. Nathan Earle could go well in that stage.

Speed channel, apparently dedicated to bike racing, seem to be the telecast partners for this race. Just some random info.

Shant be that much of an issue. It can't be enjoyable riding such a race, but I don't think that safety's bad at all.

When will you be heading off to Japan Jono? Unless you're already there.

Think only 2010 was a road stage. I'd say all the others were MTTs.

Carn Nathan Earle. Wouldn't mind if Terengganu show up in some form too, it would be great for Asian cycling.

Two days for acclimatisation? Is it enough? Especially considering the weather you've been racing in recently? Though it could well be a doddle weather wise in comparison to Malaysia.