He who is a gentleman repeats! Neilson Powless won the Japan Cup for the second time in his career. The American from EF Education-EasyPost was the strongest of the breakaway and took another victory of the season after 144.2 kilometers in the city of Utsunomiya.
The podium of the important Japanese one-day race was completed by Belgian Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) and Slovenian Matej Mohoric (Bahrain – Victorious), who took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
This year’s Japan Cup was held entirely in Utsunomiya. More precisely, east of the city center, on a circuit in the Utsunomiya City Forest Park, where Mount Kogashiyama is located. This climb was also part of the 1990 World Cup course and was also the place where today’s race was decided.
Once at the top of Mount Kogashiyama, Soudal Quick-Step was well represented in the front group, with Mauri Vansevenant and Ilan Van Wilder. The two Belgians had to fight against Slovenian Matej Mohoric, Canadian Michael Woods and American Neilson Powless.
In the final sprint, Powless convincingly took the bunch, beating all his rivals. Van Wilder crossed the finish line in second place, Mohoric 3rd, Woods 4th and Vansevenant closed the top 5.
With his victory in the Japan Cup, Powless confirmed his great form at the end of the season. He excelled in the Coppa Bernocchi, won the Gran Piemonte after an impressive solo display and finished eighth in the Tour of Lombardy.
The best South American of the five in competition was the Colombian Yecid Sierra (Utsunomiya Blitzen), finishing 40th, more than 11 minutes behind the winner. While his compatriot and teammate Rubén Darío Acosta was 51st, 14:05 behind Powless. On the other hand, Jesús David Peña (Team Jayco AlUla) and the Venezuelans from Victoire Hiroshima: Leonel Quintero and José Castillo did not finish the race.
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico