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Latrobe City sponsoring Japanese team in Herald Sun Tour

Latrobe City is sponsoring the Japanese national team in the 2005 Herald Sun Tour, continuing its long-standing relationship with Australia's oldest and greatest road cycling race.

By Latrobe City Council - 10th October 2005 - Back to News

Announcing the sponsorship, Latrobe City's Chief Executive Officer, Paul Buckley, said that the decision to sponsor Japan’s national team, further enhances the relationship Latrobe City has with Japan through the sister city relationship with Takasago.

"The larger majority of our community has been exposed to Japanese culture through educational and business exchanges, or even through events such as Japanese Day; and we again hope our community will get right behind the Latrobe City – Japan national team as it endeavours to win this year’s Tour," Mr Buckley said.

114 riders from 17 countries – including a record 72 international riders, faced the starter's gun on Sunday with a team trial in Williamstown.

National teams from Australia, Japan and Ireland along with teams from the USA and Britain also featured in the 18- team start list that included European professional teams such as Davitimon-Lotto, AG2r Prevoyance, Amore & Vita , and the French powerhouse FDJ .

The Latrobe - Japan national team comprises 34 year old Makoto Iilima, the team captain and a time trial champion who competed on the track at the past two Olympics. He was sixth in the points race in the 2004 world track championships in Melbourne.

33 year old Kazuya Okazaki rides for the professional team ‘Nippo’ in Italy. He was second overall in the 2005 Tour de Hokkaido this year.

26 year old Takumi Beppu is considered a good climber, while 24 year old Taiji Nishitani’s sprint record is highlighted by four wins in the points race at the Japanese track titles. He was 4th overall in the Tour of China this year.

They are joined by 23 year old Kazuhiro Mori, a strong time-trialist; 21 year old Yukiya Arashiro, the Japanese Under-23 road and time trial champion;

22 year old Makoto Nakamura, silver medallist in the Japanese Under-23 road championships; and Japanese university champion, 21 year old Mitsunari Mitaki.

The domestic assault will be led by 2002 winner Baden Cooke, Athens Olympic gold medallist Brett Lancaster and 2005 Tour de France debutant Simon Gerrans.

Latrobe City’s manager City Relations, Mark Brady, said a feature of this year's Tour will be the community celebrations in each host city, featuring sports carnivals, celebrity bike races and health expos.

"The final day of the Tour will be broadcast live around Australia and will be followed by 'Celebrate on Lygon', a colourful and exciting festival that salutes the diversity of people, culture and creativity throughout Victoria on three entertainment stages along Lygon Street.

"Regional showcases from throughout Victoria, including one from Latrobe City, will focus on tourism, food and wine - celebrating everything that's great about our State.

"This provides an excellent opportunity for us to promote some of the excellent weekend escapes and tourism attractions Gippsland is renowned for," Mr Brady said.

"Although the Tour will not be coming through Latrobe City this year, negotiations for holding future stages in Latrobe City are well underway. Some major announcements in this regard are expected in the coming weeks," Mr Brady revealed.

"As well as being a sporting spectacle, the Tour provides a major economic boost for regional economies, particularly for host towns. This of course was evidenced when Traralgon hosted the final stage of the 2004 tour," Mr Brady added.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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