In Tour of Japan Marco Canola wins again, for the third time on 5 stages. For him it is the 4th seasonal success, reached with a great team-work. A bad injury for Masakazu Ito that falls down causing him a broken thigh-bone.
Tour of Japan, Minami › Shinshu, 123.6 km
And Three! This is the number of success of Marco Canola in this Tour of Japan. An incredible collection of 3 victories in 5 stages. With this success is now 4 the personal seasonal score of successes and already 5 the team-victories in this 2017.
THE RACE.
At the end it is sprint, again. But not so easy to imagine it after today stage with a breakaway started since from the very begin of the stage. Among them Ivan Santaromita from NIPPO Vini Fantini team that try to reach a victory starting from the very first begin of the race, giving the chance to Marco Canola and to all his team-mates to rest and remain in the bunch without having to much work. 10 km before the finish-line the breakaway is over and the NIPPO Vini Fantini riders make a great effort to help Marco Canola. Some important attacks from competitors have been closed by Hideto Nakane and Ivan Santaromita giving the chance to Marco Canola to battle in the final sprint.
THE WINNER.
“Marco Canola has special words for his team-mates and for all the team sponsor: “Today has been great. Unfortunately we have the bad news coming from Masakazu Ito. But the race started in the best way as possibile, with Ivan Santaromita attacking and remaining again in the escape of the day since the last 10 km. Once in the group he has been again very important for the team, together with Hideto Nakane closing on important attacks. The final part of the race has been very animated, then 400 meters before the finish line I started a very long sprint. Has been very hard and long especially at the end but I get the victory.
This success is for the whole team, for my incredibile team-mates that have been very important for me from the begin to the end and to all our sponsor that were sad about our #Giro100 exclusion.”
3 stages to the end of this amazing Tour of Japan, among them will be very important for the final general ranking the one of Friday 26th with the Monte Fuji climb. In the following days two more stages with a mixed final and possible sprint arrivals.
MASAKAZU ITO INJURY.
Negative news coming from the race is the fall of Masakazu Ito victim of a fall in the final part of the race. For him broken thigh-bone, the Japanese rider of the NIPPO Vini Fantini team now in hospital will have an operation in the following days in Japan.
STAGE 5 – RANKING:
1 CANOLA Marco – NIPPO – Vini Fantini
2 EARLE NathanTeam UKYO
3 GARCIA CORTINA Ivan – Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
4 NISHIZONO Ryota – Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team
5 PRADES Benjamin – Team UKYO
GENERAL RANKING:
1 CANOLA Marco – NIPPO – Vini Fantini
2 GARCIA CORTINA Ivan – Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 0:29
3 EARLE Nathan -Team UKYO 0:34
4 HUCKER Robbie – Iso Whey Sports Swiss Wellness team 0:37
5 PRADES Benjamin – Team UKYO 0:38
6 SANTAROMITA Ivan NIPPO – Vini Fantini 0:39
7 PUJOL Oscar – Team UKYO 0:40
POINT RANKING:
1 CANOLA Marco NIPPO – Vini Fantini 93
2 ABERASTURI Jon -Team UKYO 68
3 GARCIA CORTINA Ivan – Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 60