Arashiro targets the Japan Cup

Yukiya Arashiro is chasing success at this weekend’s Japan Cup races after an aggressive end of season.

The Europcar rider was in the key breakaway of the Lombardia race that ended the European season on October 15 and then travelled home to Japan for Saturday’s criterium and Sunday’s road race in Utsunomiya.

“I’m determined to do well in the Japan Cup. It’s a big, big goal for me,” Arashiro said.

“I love racing in Europe and like to be aggressive but the Japan Cup is my home race and so is special.”

Arashiro will ride the Japanese Cup as part of a special Japanese national team that will also include Yukihiro Doi, Takashi Miyazawa, Shinichi Fukushima and Hayato Yoshida. Other star riders competing in Japan include Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego, Giovanni Visconti and Roman Kreuziger. Ireland’s Dan Martin won the Japan Cup in 2010, while Arashiro finished ninth.

Arashiro is satisfied with his 2011 season with the Europcar team and was rightly praised by Ernesto Colnago at the start of Lombardia in Milan.

“I won the Asian road race title at the start of the year but unfortunately I didn’t manage to win in Europe. It was a pity but it’s never easy to win a race. That’s cycling,” he said philosophically.