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THE RISING SUN: THE LOWDOWN ON RACING IN JAPAN
Lee Rodgers
April 16, 2009
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The great Bernard Hinault couldn't even get a race in Japan organized
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
A good Japanese friend of mine told me a story. Once, a few years back, the legend that is Bernard Hinault was in Hiroshima on business. At an evening reception my friend was lucky enough to meet him and to share a few beers with the great man. As they’re sitting at the bar, the Mayor of Hiroshima comes over. Hinault, using my friend as an interpreter, tells the Mayor that he has an idea _ a Peace Criterium series – one race in Hiroshima, the other in Nagasaki, packed with Europe’s top pros and all hosted by Hinault himself. Hinault says he wants to help kick-start road racing in Asia. The Mayor listens quietly, then shakes his head apologetically and says - `Sorry, it wouldn’t be possible. Too dangerous!` And walks off.
In a nation with no real road cycling culture to call its own this tale is indicative of the general attitude held by many people in Japan. Hurtling round the Keirin track at 70km/h on a bike with no brakes whilst trying not to be head butted by 6 other guys in 1950s motorcycle helmets that weigh about 38 pounds is fine of course, but the idea of racing a bike on the road strikes most as being, well, kind of stupid. The police only very reluctantly sanction cycling events and often insist on a `no racing` clause, and that the courses, rather than staying up in the hills where there’s very little traffic, run at least partly through towns – the logic being that the traffic lights will slow people down and discourage racing. It doesn’t work though, and I’ve seen too many close calls as guys barrel through red lights as they try to keep up with the others.
I’ve spoken to many organizers about these problems and about the difficulties of getting a real racing scene going, and they often say that if they were to classify an event as a `race` it would put many people off from paying the entry fee . They claim that most Japanese cyclists just want to ride around. Well, that’s fine, but with most of these events costing over $50 to enter, and the pace that the front guys get up to, I’d argue that there are lots of people here who want to race, and who’ll pay to do it. The attempts by the organizers and police to make these events safe are often ill conceived by people who’ve never ridden a road bike, and as a result many of the courses are potential death traps. Last year I did a race on a car racing circuit. Nice wide roads, no traffic, perfect – or so you’d think. But as the elite road racers were hurtling around, at the same time, on the same course, there was also a children’s race and a granny bike race. The main group was doing 60km down one hill and then it suddenly split before me, and there in the middle was a terrified ten-year old on a BMX bike!
I did another event, a 50km loop, when I first took up riding here. I came in first, and stood around glancing at the rather magnificent looking trophy that sat on the organizer’s table. After thirty minutes or so I went over and asked when the awards ceremony would be. "Oh you don’t get a prize," said the guy. "That trophy is for the Center Time." The what? `The Center Time. Before the race the organizers decided what would be the perfect time to do 50kms in – we chose 2 and a half hours. So the rider nearest 2 and a half hours wins the prize.` Awarding mediocrity! Amazing! Congrats for being so perfectly average!
There are though some very talented riders over here, but with such little racing going on it’s very difficult for them to really develop that talent. Most who show even a smidgen of potential head off to France for a season or two, then limp back disillusioned. Those that go on to be pros with the Japanese teams often get stuck in a rut and don’t challenge themselves enough to become the really good riders they could be. With only twelve races – yes, twelve – in the pro and top-level calendar in a season, many find it difficult to get sufficiently motivated. The lack of experienced riders passing on the art of racing bikes is also evident in the poor bike handling seen in races – braking on corners, pointless mini-attacks, and reckless sprinting - all things you get shouted at for in Europe and the States – not here. Outside pro level there is usually at least one crash in every race.
But it’s not all doom and gloom! There are a select few of exceptional riders on the scene who are very ambitious, and I think it won’t be too long before we see some Japanese faces in with the Euro teams. At the organizing level is where things really need to change though, from the most basic – such as weekday hammer fests and unsanctioned racing – both unheard of here - through to the race scene at regional and national level. I’m trying to do my bit by setting up hill climb events and hopefully some TTs – the latter very rare in Japan – and by setting up training camps for talented local riders. There is so much sheer potential in this beautiful little country, and with the combination of endless mountains, faultless, near-careless roads and great weather, it would be a sin to let it all go to waste.
Maybe I’ll give Bernard a call…
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