What a wonderful and incredible victory for Marco Canola, the n. 6 of his season, plus the double success in the Criterium yesterday and in the Japan Cup today, a race of 1.HC category, the most important of Japan. Las year the winner was davide Villella and in 2008 the race has been won also by the other #OrangeBlue rider Damiano Cunego. An historic day also for Mario Manzoni, the Sports Director, back in Japan after 27 years and the victory of Italy of the World championship Under23.
Utsunomiya, 22 ottobre 2017.
HISTORIC DOUBLE SUCCESS.
Marco Canola is the Japan Cup 2017 winner. A wonderful success and an historic double. He his the first rider ever to win both the Criterium and the Japan Cup in the same week-end. The first ever of the most important competition of Japan, a race of 1.HC category into a race won by big riders in the past such as Davide Villella in 2016 and also by the #OrangeBlue rider Damiano Cunego in 2008.
Many good competitors today, but the ambitions and motivations of the NIPPO Vini Fantini were at the top and the team reached an incredible double in Criterium and Japan Cup for his sponsor and many Japanese fans.
THE FIRST VICTORY EVER OF NIPPO IN JAPAN CUP.
An unforgettable moment also for the Japanese brand NIPPO Corporation that today wins for the first time ever the Japan Cup of the PROs, with only a victory reached among Under23 category in the past.
THE RIDER DECLARATION.
Marco Canola on the finish line cannot contain his happiness for one of most important success of his career together with the Giro d’Italia stage victory: “I’m so happy for this victory, that have such a big value for the team and for me. Our team is Italian-Japanese and this is the best gift we can do to our sponsor and to our fans for the trust they give us everyday. I want to dedicate this victory to all our sponsors, today here also from Italy, and to my mother that was sick and I know that for sure I give her a big satisfaction.”
TWELVE VICTORY OF THE SEASON.
For Marco Canola it is the 6th personal victory of the season, with the additional success in the Criterium of yesterday. Victory number 12 of the team for a final part of the season in Japan that could not be better. A great satisfaction also for Mario Manzoni, the sports director of the team that in a season rich of great success is back in Japan for the first time in 27 years.
In 1990 as rider with the Under23 Italian selection, the team win the World Championship with the victory of Mirco Gualdi, today as Sport Director of the NIPPO Vini Fantini, for the first time back in Japan, he won and reached this historic goal for NIPPO.
FINAL RANKING
1 – Marco Canola – NIPPO Vini Fantini
2 – PRADES Benjamin Team UKYO
3 – AMEZAWA Takeaki Utsunomiya Blitzen
4 – TOLHOEK Antwan Team Lotto NL-Jumbo
5 – LEBAS Thomas Kinan Cycling Team
6 – STUYVEN Jasper Trek – Segafredo
7 – HILL Benjamin Attaque Team Gusto
8 – BATTAGLIN Enrico Team Lotto NL-Jumbo
9 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team
10 HATANAKA Yusuke Team UKYO