Japan's Miyazawa thanks chance encounter for Saxo Bank ride
Saxo Bank | January 16, 2012
Takashi Miyazawa is racing in the first division in team Saxo Bank this year thanks to a chance encounter with Bjarne Riis. The Japanese cyclist met Riis following the Tour de France last year and soon after, struck a deal to join his team.
"Riis and I happened to be on the same flight after the Tour de France last year," explained Miyazawa. "We met at the Charles de Gaul airport in Paris, where I was there for an appointment. We were both flying back to Italy, so I started a conversation – talk is free!"
Miyazawa, last year's Japanese champion, talked himself into a contract with one of cycling's top teams. He has now set up home in Lucca, Italy, moving from his former home down the road in Pistoia.
Riis lived for years in Lucca, where several of his Danish riders also are based. Miyazawa dreamt of racing in Italy and Europe since he was a child in Japan, watching on television Mario Cipollini win stages in the Giro d'Italia or Miguel Indurain win the Tour de France.
He said with a laugh, "Now, I live in Lucca, Cipollini's hometown!"
After racing for several years with Japanese teams, Miyazawa joined Italian team Farnese Vini. Last year, in addition to winning the national championships, he accumulated ranking points via places in several important races. He finished the season the top-ranked Japanese rider in the UCI's European Tour.
In Saxo Bank the 33-year-old will be part of the team's expanding push in sprints, sometimes helping Juan José Haedo and sometimes, as with the Tour Down Under, helping Jonathan Cantwell.
"I'm no longer one of the young riders, but I still have my chances. I'll take my opportunity when it comes if I am going well, but I am not aiming for one particular race, rather to perform well the entire season," explained Miyazawa.
"If there's a chance for me, I will take it for a win, but of course, the team's goals are my goals. I don't mind working for the team, for any of my team-mates, like JJ Haedo."
Miyazawa is one of only two Japanese cyclists racing in the first division with Fumiyuki Beppu of team GreenEDGE. After the Tour Down Under, his next race is the Mallorca Challenge in Spain.