Rapha Condor Sharp in Japan
Story posted May 17, 2010; by Paul Rowlands for Rapha Condor Sharp
Top British team, Rapha Condor Sharp, are in Japan competing in a stage race prior to returning home and a busy period of racing in Britain. Paul Rowlands is with the team and is sending reports on their progress.
Day 7 - Dempster's Podium in the Rain
The final day of the 2010 Tour of Japan, finished with a rain soaked stage in the capital city Tokyo today where the bunch tackled a 112 kilometre circuit race around the city. Zak Dempster finished the race for Rapha on a high with third place in a bunch kick. Read More >
Day 6 -- Epic - Victory for Kristian House
Superlatives are often chucked around commentary booths and press rooms with casual abandon and whilst it’s rare that any victory is underserved, there’s an easy way to do things and there’s a tough way. Today Rapha Condor Sharp won and we did it the tough way. Read More >
Day 5 -- Brutal day for Rapha on Mount Fuji
It was a tough day at the office on day 5 for Rapha Condor Sharp as the bunch tackled the ascent of Mt Fuji in a very short but brutal stage 5 of the 2010 Tour of Japan. Having transferred by coach from Lida the day before and reconnoitered the course that afternoon in torrential rain, the riders assembled at the foot of the mountain this morning under clear skies for the brutal 11km ascent to the finish line. Read More >
Day 4 -- Dark clouds gather
Day 4 of the Tour of Japan saw the clouds gather over the race as the riders tackled the most demanding stage so far, a 148km stage based around a 12.2km circuit that consisted of a 3km climb and a long twisty, rolling descent back to the bottom to do it all over again... 12 times! Read More >
Day 3, Dempster second, Lappers still in contention
On day 3 of the Tour of Japan, the team once again showed what makes them one of the most exciting and consistent forces in British cycling at the moment as they animated the race from start to finish. The team consolidated their position on GC, narrowly missing out on the stage win but always from start to finish, appearing in control of a race that, so far, has gone exactly to script. Read More >
Day 2 and Rapha consolidate
On day 2, Rapha Condor Sharp consolidated its position in the race with a solid team display in support of yesterdays top team finisher Darren Lapthorne. Every member of the team displayed total commitment to the collective effort today, enabling team leader Darren Lapthorne to finish in the top ten on the day, surrounded by the riders he will have to do battle with over the coming days if he is to challenge for overall honours here.
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Day 1: Close but no cigar
Day 1 of the 2010 Tour of Japan is now complete and it’s been a solid start for the Rapha Condor Sharp team as they took second place in the pre stage criterium after Dean Windsor infiltrated a four man breakaway with 5 laps to go before narrowly missing out on the win in a scrappy sprint finish. In the afternoon’s time trial, the opening stage of the Tour of Japan the team placed two riders in the top 10, putting the team in a strong position in advance of tomorrows first road stage of the race.
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Team Manager, John Herety's View on the race
With the race start less than 24 hours away the waiting is nearly over so Paul Rowlands sat down with team manager John Herety to talk about his initial impression of Japan and what we could expect from the team over the coming week.
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Zak Dempster's View on the Tour of Japan
The Rapha Condor Sharp team are currently in Osaka preparing for the Tour of Japan where six of the squad will take part in this 7 stage tour of the country that begins on Sunday. Paul Rowlands talks to team rider Zak Dempster about what the team should expect from the Tour.
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