Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) claimed his second straight victory within the Japan Cup Criterium on Saturday.
The Belgian rider received the higher of Cofidis puncheur Axel Zingle, who has had a breakthrough season, within the bunch dash.
Residence favorite Atsushi Oka, who rides for the EF Schooling Improvement group however has been referred to as as much as the WorldTour squad, grabbed the ultimate spot on the rostrum.
The Japan Cup Criterium is a tune-up occasion forward of Sunday’s most important attraction, the Japan Cup highway race.
Theuns now has two straight titles however two in 4 years, given the Japan Cup did not happen in 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
After 15 laps of a 2.25km circuit round Utsunomiya Metropolis, Theuns emerged victorious after edging out Frenchman Zingle.
Sunday’s highway race is a a lot hillier affair, totalling 144.2km over 14 laps of a ten.3km circuit that options the Koga Shirindo climb.
The highest three from the Criterium will all be in motion, with Trek-Segafredo, Cofidis, and EF amongst 5 WorldTour groups, the others being Bahrain Victorious and Lotto Soudal.
Zingle is joined at Cofidis by Guillaume Martin, whereas different favourites embody Giuliop Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), and Neilson Powless (EF).
| Place | Rider (Nation) Crew | |
| 1 | Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo | |
| 2 | Axel Zingle (Fra) Cofidis | |
| 3 | Atsushi Oka (Jap) EF Schooling-EasyPost |
