Hi and welcome to the 2014 Japanese National Championship Time Trial Event. We have 3 favourites for the title, the other riders will probably use this time trial as a training ride for the road race;

Meiji - Cannondale is here with 16 riders, so all pressure is on Fumiyuki Beppu to deliver, unsurprisingly at the first SPLIT (13kms) he sets the fastest time so far today: 20'48". Next up, Kosuke Makino of Compal-Merida; 20'47", we are in for a close fight, only 1 second faster.

Right behind Makino we have our last rider of today Masatoshi Oba of Siam Cement - Lenovo and he is flying; 20'26" after 13kms, more than 20 seconds faster than Beppu and Makino. He is looking strong, out of the saddle most of the time, but can he continue this?


Yes he can! As you can see on this time-lapse photo, Oba is way ahead at SPLIT 2 (24 kms), 40 seconds and more. Beppu and Makino are still in a close fight for second place, the last one taking the corners a little bit wider, Beppu looks a bit shaky on his TT bike.


Oba continues his great ride between SPLIT 2 and 3, and when they enter the city again, he can see Makino in front of him.


And with that extra moral boost Masatoshi Oba easily takes the Japanese National Time Trial Championship. 48.9 kms in 1h'12'12", Kosuke Makino in second place, 4 seconds faster than Fumiyuki Beppu.


Your 2014 Japanese NC ITT Winner: Masatoshi Oba!

Hi and welcome to the 2014 Japanese National Championship Road Race Event. We have 22 riders, 6 are non-Meiji. Right from the start we see the first attack, it's Yamato Shirota of Meiji - Cannondale. Masatoshi Oba (ITT winner) is the only one to react!


Oba wants to create a gap fast, and when they reach the finish line for the first time (3 more lapse to go) the difference to the pack is already 2 minutes.


Meiji - Cannondale controls the pack behind Shirota and Oba, they are not riding hard, but keep the gap between 2/3 minutes.


Shirota and Oba continue to work together, Shirota takes the front when the road is rising.


Oba is doing most of the work during the downhill/flat parts.


Another round done, and suddenly a crash in the pack! It's Wataru Mutsumine of Meiji - Cannondale crashing hard during the downhill. Also another key moment; the pack doesn't chase the break away anymore; the gap is now +4 minutes.


Two riders decide to leave the pack behind; Yusuke Hatanaka and Tomohiro Kinoshita both of Meiji - Cannondale. They probably at least want to fight for 3rd place, all other riders got off their bikes the next time they got back into the city again.


So Yamato Shirota and Masatoshi Oba will decide this year's Japanese NC! Can Oba take the double? 3kms to go; Oba is leading.


2.5kms to go, Shirota is forced to lead by Oba, smart move?


With 1.5kms to go, Oba attacks!


Shirota does counter attack but it looks a little bit late.


Last kilometre, Shirota gets to Oba's wheel, now can he push again?


Only two corners left now and they are riding side by side again!


Now Shirota accelerates, can Oba fight back?


Nope Oba finally cracks, Meiji for victory!


So Yamato Shirota delivers big time for Meiji - Cannondale (did he saved energy during the ITT?).


Your 2014 Japanese NC Winner: Yamato Shirota!