Rui Costa won the 30th edition of the Japan Cup (1.Pro). The 37-year-old Portuguese cyclist defeated Felix Engelhardt and Guillaume Martin in an exciting sprint after covering approximately 134 kilometers. This victory served as a farewell gift to his team, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, as Rui Costa will not continue competing for the Belgian team next year.
Julian Alaphilippe’s Attack
The race had its initial protagonist in Julian Alaphilippe of the Soudal Quick-Step team, who was determined to liven up the race. The French cyclist launched an early attack and took the lead on his own, maintaining it for quite some time. However, his effort didn’t yield the desired results as the two-time world champion couldn’t sustain the pace on his own. He was caught by a select group of riders.
Towards the end of the race, after various attacks, only three cyclists were in contention in particularly demanding and rainy conditions. The resilient Rui Costa was there, along with the young German Felix Engelhardt from the Jayco AlUla team, and the French climber Guillaume Martin representing Cofidis. The three cyclists went head-to-head until the finish, where a decisive sprint would determine the victory or defeat. In this sprint, it became clear that Costa had no rivals.
Watch the victory of Portuguese Rui Costa:
A smiling Rui Costa receives his award at the 30th Japan Cup Cycle Road Race:
Results of the Japan Cup:
