Yukiya Arashiro lines up for the Japan Cup as he bids farewell to his time at Bahrain Victorious in the only UCI ProSeries race on his home roads. The Japan Cup, which began in 1992 as a memorial to the 1990 UCI Road World Championships in Utsunomiya City, has grown into a key event in the Asian racing calendar. 

Likely making his final appearance in the WorldTour, Arashiro has been with Bahrain Victorious since the team was founded in 2017. He has been a pivotal figure for the team and an ambassador for Japanese cycling, playing a significant role in developing the sport within Japan and representing the country on the world stage.

Arashiro’s career has been remarkable. Over the years, he has completed an impressive 16 Grand Tours, including 7 Tour de France appearances—a testament to his dedication. His presence in the peloton and his contributions to cycling both on and off the bike have made him a respected figure in the cycling world. 

Arashiro will ride in support of Edoardo Zambanini, whose climbing abilities and solid sprint make him a strong contender for the 141-kilometer race, which features 14 laps of a 10.2-kilometer circuit with a 185-meter elevation gain per lap, including the Mt. Kogashi climb. Alongside Edoardo will be Matej Mohorič as co-leader, bringing a wealth of experience and winning know-how to the line-up.

Also riding in support for the leaders are Nicolò Buratti, Andrea Pasqualon, and Jasha Sütterlin.This race also marks the final appearance of Jasha Sütterlin in Bahrain Victorious colours before he moves to Team Jayco AlUla next season. Sütterlin has been a valuable part of the team and will look to drive the team to a good result on his final outing.

SD Franco Pellizotti comments: “This year we have a strong team. The riders are really motivated to close the season. Matej is in good shape and Zambanini is our leader, he’s really had a great season, and shown his form later in this season. He was here last year, and the format suits him. 

There are a lot of quality teams here which will make the race really hard. But the team is strong, and with the motivation to really finish the season strong.

We’ve got Yuki here who is a big star in Japan and brings us a lot of knowledge and experience. We also have Buratti, Pasqualon and Sütterlin who will give us good support. We will need that support in the first part of the race. I hope we can take a good result home.”