Japan may never produce a Tour de France champion but it could become a force in sprinting, according to some of the stars of today. With the Asian country gearing up for the annual Criterium de Saitama, an exhibition race created by Tour de France organisers three years ago, some of the stars of Japanese cycling admitted it may be a step too far to hope that one of their own could triumph in the most prestigious race in the world.
But Fumiyuki Beppu, who rides for the Trek Factory Racing team, does believe that Japanese racers can make top class fast men. "Most of the guys like sprinting. We have a lot of mountains (in Japan) but with all the traffic lights every 10-metres, every time you have a sprint," joked the 32-year-old, a three-time national time-trial champion.
"We're kind of sprinters because we have also the Keirin which is popular in Japan."