- I've come all the way to Saitama in Japan and who is it?
It's the man himself, Deity the Devil.
- Hey, yeah, yeah-- - Wie gehts du? Gut?
- Saitama good time, yeah Saitama!
- He's still the same.
- Alles gut.
- Yeah, alles gut yeah?
- Yeah, yeah.
- He's crazy.
Now I was lucky enough to be invited to Japan
for the sixth edition of the Saitama Criterium.
What is it though?
Well it's an event organized by
the Amery Sports Organization, who also organize events
such as the Tour de France, the Vuelta Espana,
Paris Roubaix, and many more.
This event is actually called the Le Tour de France,
Saitama Criterium.
And it's to celebrate and showcase some
of the biggest names in the cycling world
by having them race in front
of the passionate Japanese crowd.
And at the same time, immerse them
in Japanese cultural experiences
over an action packed couple of days.
Now the atmosphere here in Saitama
is absolutely buzzing.
There's loads of people around already and it's
only 9 o'clock in the morning which kind of
surprises me really because well, in the UK
most people would probably still be in bed, let's face it.
However, the race organizers have organized a heap
of different events as well to entertain people's time
including, get this, a French market, Japanese style.
(music)
So just over my shoulder, we've got Alberto Contador
on the stage here in Saitama, now he's not
making a comeback just yet, or well I don't
know if he is going to at all in the future,
but he is in fact giving his opinion on next years
Tour de France route.
Well, a two time winner of the Tour de France,
he certainly knows a thing or two about it so
he has got a massive following here,
a massive fan base here in Japan.
There's people here with flags, banners, all sorts
to celebrate him returning to Saitama.
It's absolutely wonderful to see.
I'm trying to keep my voice down because
everyone is listening intently to what he's got to say.
It's great.
(energetic music)
There's no time for the team presentation,
and this is absolutely fantastic.
The crowd, some of them have been waiting here
since the early hours of this morning.
When I went out for a quick run I did in fact see
people making sure they could have the first rung
of the barrier to make sure they could see their stars,
because this is one of the only times of the year,
in fact it is the only time of the year when
the actual public get to see the World Tour riders
up close and personal like they can right now.
And well, wait until your hear some of the cheers these
riders get when they appear on stage,
It's absolutely wild.
They love cycling here.
Fantastic.
(crowd applause)
(music)
So I was walking around this French Japanese
market type thing.
I've got Marcel Kittel just over there, eating himself
a bowl of noodles, presumably carbo loading
for tomorrows race, I don't know, but he looks
to be getting sucked in and enjoying himself.
I might go and see if he's got any spare for me
in a minute, cause I'm a little bit peckish myself.
I've just been accosted by some gents,
I don't really know what I've got to do.
I've got to go and sit next to him,
so I am going to do that.
- (speaking in Japanese)
- Okay.
- (speaking in Japanese)
- I don't know what I'm doing.
- (speaking in Japanese)
- Again?
It's like a game, like tennis.
Okay, it's starting to grow a bit.
I am just copying what he's doing.
They grabbed me, they pulled me in here
and I thought I've got to do it.
Oh look, look, look.
Look at this.
It's like a cracker of some sort.
Aw, he's not letting me have a go anymore.
I don't think he trusted me.
- (speaking in Japanese)
- Yeah, okay, I'll do it again.
I am sort of doing it.
Wrong, I think.
Oh no, I've burnt it.
- Aww.
- (speaking in Japanese)
- Yeah, a little, okay, a little, a little.
This okay?
- (Japanese language)
- No!
That's okay.
- One more, one more.
- One more.
I can't believe I did that, after all that.
(music)
There are so many different events going on
for the riders as they part in here.
Just looking at the media schedule for them,
they are literally here, there, everywhere,
and it all runs absolutely like clockwork.
And the riders are being mobbed almost,
but in a really, really, really polite way.
I've never seen anything like it at a sporting event.
It's silent almost to the fact where all you can hear
is just footsteps and then the rider stops
and gives the autographs and carry on.
It's fantastic.
I never realized that Japanese fans were quite
so passionate about cycling.
Now the type of events that riders have been
taking part in are absolutely wild and wacky.
For instance, right now there's riders about to go
on stage and learn how to bang
some traditional Japanese drums,
as well as learning how to throw a baseball
with a famous Japanese baseball player.
Getting kids to ride bikes, as well as visiting
children in a local red cross hospital.
(light Japanese drums)
So, it's race day here in Saitama and it's 8 o'clock
in the morning so sun hasn't quite come through
quite yet, but the crowds here, well they have been
packing out for hours on end.
When I was up at 6 o'clock this morning,
I saw the laying down their towels, actually.
At the side of the road, in chairs and such like
so they can reserve those spots at the side.
It's super exciting.
The buzz here is absolutely out of this world.
Just over there behind my good camera man,
well yeah, I'm speechless I'm so excited for it.
So, once on the other side of the road,
we've got the French market set up.
Over here we've got a cycling village set up
where it has everything available.
So here, I've got myself a fan souvenir card
and a bag involving some sweets and stuff like that,
but also there's a huge variety
of different cycling vendors here selling sort
of cut price end of season deals on clothing.
As well as events.
I've just actually been invited to the Tour of Japan
for next year, so hopefully I can be sent there
as well because this is absolutely great.
Also there's things involving children
so there's children's activation projects on cycling.
Yesterday I saw Geraint Thomas and Alberto Contador
having a little race against some kids around there too.
And how many times a year do you get to race in Japan?
- I think, only this period, like October.
- So not national championships or?
- Maybe I will try, because not I did every year,
so maybe I do next year because for the Olympic Games
for the selection team, important race for me, yeah.
- And the crowd here, I've got to say, they are
absolutely incredible aren't they?
The crowds, they are huge.
- Yeah.
- And they know every rider and everything about them.
- In Japan is huge because people know
the riders history, and their family situation.
Our Japanese mentality, that's really kindness,
respect for the people, that's amazing.
- Now the teams have just arrived, and behind me
quite lively in the background on the stage,
got a couple of presenters who are in fact
going to present the teams for the team presentation.
And then the riders are going to have to race
a sprint qualifying race.
Now, I'm a little bit worried here because
a few of the riders last night were actually
at a Japanese game show that I was lucky enough
to be at too.
And it was quite a late evening and they were
getting them to do some quite weird and wonderful
things on stage, but I'm overly excited to see exactly
how they are going to get on that sprint qualification.
(energetic music)
So just over my shoulder, the riders are being introduced,
ready for the sprint qualification here.
Now, what exactly does that mean?
Well, we've got a guy who's riding around
on an electric type Derny bike.
It's got a big Yamaha engine on it
if you are really interested,
and it has got a tiny sprocket in the rear
and a massive chain ring.
Now he is pacing the riders around the three kilometer
circuit for about two and a half thousand meters
before pulling off, and then it's really a game
of cat and mouse between the four riders
in each heap to sprint to the line.
Let's see how they get on.
(music)
So the start of the sprint final is about to begin,
well, there goes the Derny pacer behind me.
Now the final includes Marcel Kittel, Alexander Kristoff,
as well as Beppu himself from Japan,
and also a local rider as well from Nippo Fantini,
so we are going to see exactly how it pans out.
Could there be an upset for the World Tour guys?
Who knows?
I'm excited though.
(race announcing)
And they're off, in three kilometers we will know
who is the sprint champion this year in Saitama.
Go on lads, get stuck in.
(crowd and announcer cheering)
- There we are, Kittel over Kristoff.
(upbeat music)
It is deadly silent here.
I've never been at a bike race where it was quite so quiet.
Um, now the race is actually about to start
and as you can see the front of the race is lined up
with Geraint Thomas and Alejandro Valverde.
Well, they've got 20 laps of a three kilometer circuit.
Who's your money on?
(energetic music)
There's currently one rider out ahead on his own.
He's actually got a light fitted to his bike.
I don't think he realizes that the race isn't
going to be an all nighter, or maybe it's just
for the crowds, but he's got a light
on the front and rear, but, well,
the World Tour boys behind,
I don't think they are going to let him
stick out there for long.
So a lap later it's all back together
and as you can see, they're in full sprint mode here
because there are some points on the line.
We've got Alexander Kristoff up against Marcel Kittel,
and well, a close one, I couldn't actually see
who got it but there are a few raindrops in the air now,
and with this tight twisty cities end of circuit
that could be treacherous.
(uplifting music)
There's just two laps to go and well, in the Front
group we've got Alejandro Valverde and Geraint Thomas,
and it's between four or five riders there,
who are actually going to be battling it out for the win.
I'm super interested to see who's gonna win
the battle of that lot in a sprint
because there is no pure sprinter in there.
(music)
Well and the race is just finished and with
a two up sprint between Geraint Thomas
and Alejandro Valverde, I was really surprised actually,
that a wily track rider such as Geraint Thomas,
okay I know he's not been on the track for a while now,
but he decided to actually lead out from the bottom
corner where it was a surprise like I say for Valverde.
He put them away in the sprint.
But what a finish to that race.
(energetic music)
Now I really hope you have enjoyed this
look around the Saitama Criterium.
To be honest I had no idea what to expect
when we arrived here in Japan
because I've never been here before,
and I didn't really know about the cycling culture
when it came to racing.
But I have been really pleasantly surprised
by the way that all the fans know everything
about every single rider there appears to be here.
And just look at the reaction that's going on behind me
as Marcel Kittel walks by.
Now, do remember as well to let me know
what you think about this video down there
in the comments section below.
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And I'm gonna go and meet these really lovely fans.