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Tour of Japan 2010 stage 3 · 18/05/10

Teamwork is the order of the day for Rapha Condor Sharp

On day three of the Tour of Japan the team once again showed what makes them one of the most exciting and consistent forces in British Cycling. They animated the race from start to finish, consolidating their position on GC, narrowly missing out on the stage win but always appearing in control of a race that, so far, has gone exactly to script.

The third stage of the race was the longest to date covering 160km. Made up of just over 7 laps of just over 21km after the ceremonial start and neutralised parade away from the stage start.

The location for the start today was the town of Mino, an amazing traditional Japanese town whose atmosphere and hospitality brought the race to life. The stage itself began in a narrow street with riders, staff and spectators mingling closely as the fans sought autographs and photos alongside the numerous media seeking TV time with the leading riders.

As we rolled out the streets were lined with hundreds of local people, all waving flags to represent the many countries whose riders are participating in the race. An amazing way to begin the day in a country and race that continues to surprise at every turn.

Onto the racing and the bunch wasted no time in getting down to business. Early skirmishes eventually saw eight riders going away from the main bunch including Kristian House of Rapha Condor Sharp. The group worked well together and over the next 40km amassed a lead of 2m40s.

With Kristian in the move, the rest of the team were able to concentrate on protecting Darren who sat in 3rd place overall, leaving those teams who had missed the move to take responsibility for the chase. Most prominent amongst those who missed the move were the Kazakh national team and after 52km the race radio crackled into life to announce that it was they who now led a bunch that moved snake like towards its prey, head steady, body oscillating rhythmically as the riders at the tail of the bunch clung on and hoped for a little respite.

In just 24km the lead of the breakaway toppled down to just 30 seconds and as the catch became inevitable the break splintered and one by one the escapees were mopped up bringing a brief moment of truce in the bunch.

Back in the convoy this was taken as a cue for refreshments. The frenetic activity at the front of the race was replaced for a few kilometers with chaos at the back as team car after team car rushed forward to service their riders with fresh bottles and food. Sitting third in the convoy meant we had a ringside seat as on more than one occasion different cars made contact and wing mirrors, wings and door panels took their share of abuse. Whilst we’re missing it dearly, for a moment we were all glad that our beloved Skodas were sitting this trip out!

As is often the case, the stalling of the bunch offers a further opportunity for escape and it was former track world champ Wong Kam Po who snuck away building a lead of 30 seconds with his co-escapee. However the teams of the sprinters had by now sensed the opportunity to win and the bunch, driven mainly by the De Rosa team simply held the breakaway at arms length until ready to reel them in, or so they thought until at 136km a group of six chasers broke free of the bunch, amongst them a number of GC contenders amongst them Rapha Condor Sharp’s Darren Lapthorne, causing a frenetic chase that lasted just over 7km and for a moment at least looked like it might produce a new yellow jersey.

Onto the final lap and it was gruppo compatto (believe it or not we get race radio here in Japanese, English and Italian) albeit a fast moving bunch and one that now sensed the finish line couldn’t be far away. As we hit the main climb for the final time a number of riders began to drift back, job done and safely inside the time cut, wisely saving their legs for another tough day in the saddle tomorrow. Amongst them was Graham Briggs, his job of protecting Darren and seeing him safely to the bottom of the climb done, he even had a moment to say job done (still smiling!) to the team car as the convoy accelerated past.

I spoke to Kristian after the finish and he talked me through the final kilometers of the stage. According to the current national champion, the team placed Dean Windsor in the train at the front of the bunch, sharing the pace setting with De Rosa and enabling Zak, Darren and himself to stay near the front. On the run in to the final climb, Graham Briggs also pulled at the front of the group before dropping back. Once on to the climb Kristian took over riding tempo at the front of the group for the next half a kilometer before sliding back into the group once again whilst Darren seized the opportunity to make one last attempt to gain time before the top of the climb.

Into the descent and Kristian moved up once again to place three RCS riders on the tail of the De Rosa train as the race moved into the final kilometer where, as everyone looked to the Italians to start the sprint, the Japanese Aisan team took the initiative, launching an early bid for victory. Reacting quickly, Zak was straight onto the Aisan train and as those riders began to fade he hit the front looking briefly like the victory was his until as the line crept up the De Rosa team sprinter, Cucinotta, edged past Zak to take their second victory in two days.

Quotes from the riders

Speaking straight after the finish, Zak Dempster described how the day had unfolded:

“We had to cover a fair bit of stuff early on, Kristian got up the road, took the pressure off us and put the pressure on the Kazakhs which has given them a hard ride before tomorrow which is a key stage. Coming over the climb obviously I knew the last time was the most important, I just positioned myself behind the De Rosa guys and they had 5 guys left but it didnít seem they wanted to start the leadout so one of the Aisan guys hit out then died, so I hit out at 300 to go and he (Cucinotta of De Rosa) got over me with about 50 meters to go.”

going on to talk about the recent upturn in his form, Zak said:

“I had a bit of a false start to the season, I havenít been happy with how Iíve been riding, it hasnít been ideal so if this is the start of me riding like I usually do, Iím reasonably happy with that.”

Undoubtedly one of the biggest contributors to a great team effort today was Kristian House; at the finish he talked about how the team made it all come together out on the road, I started off by asking if the early move had been planned:

“Not really planned or unplanned, it wasnít planned for me to be in it, but then again I was there at the right time and had the legs to go, I rode with them till we got a minute or minute and a half then just sat on, gave them a couple of turns every once in a while, when it started coming down I started riding again just to make it a little harder for the teams chasing, but it was relatively easy up there, so when it came back I was still fairly fresh to help Zak and Lappers for the final bit.”

Talking about the team effort, something every rider I spoke to was keen to stress, Kristian talked about the contribution of a few riders in particular:

“Briggsy, both Deans, everyone just rode really well, that’s the way it goes.”

I pressed him further, pointing out that the rapport between the riders on Rapha Condor Sharp seems markedly more friendly than some of the other teams we encounter at home and abroad, his answer was short and succinct, but sums up the Rapha Condor Sharp mentality:

“Yeah, that’s how we roll! We’ve got a good group of guys who know what they’re doing, it’s good.”

A theme that Graham Briggs clearly also buys into:

“Everybody knows what they’re doing, we work well as a unit, makes it a lot easier when everybody’s organised as a team. When everyone gets on, off the bike life is easier on the bike too, you’ll do your job even better if you do it for your friends.”

Lastly of course, it wouldn’t be fair to sign off without a word from the man of the moment, Darren Lapthorne, at one point it looked like he might move up on GC but at the end of the stage it was a case of as you were in the top three. Something Darren wasn’t unhappy with:

“Towards the end of the race I gave it a good dig, I was away in a break and away at the top of the last climb with another De Rosa rider. He wouldnít work though because he has a guy second on GC. In the end I didnít lose time, didnít have to touch the front all day, the team was so good, so strong. Did a great job for me and made my life easier in the end. Tomorrow is a really important day, I thin k it could be one of the most decisive as far as the GC goes, I feel like Iím one of the stronger climbers here so Iíll give it a good go.”

Join us tomorrow to see how that pans out as we take on stage 4 at Minami Shinshu.

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