December 21, 2011

The ANCHOR Teams; Challenging the World Organization of the Racing Teams for the 2012 Season

Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. (President: Yuji Takeuchi) hereby announces the organization of the ANCHOR ROAD/MTB racing teams for the 2012 season. Our support for riders started with the Bridgestone Cycle bicycle racing club, which was inaugurated in commemoration of the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964. The team became professional in 1999 under the name Team Bridgestone ANCHOR together with the launch of the real sports ANCHOR (*) brand, and we established a team concept of "Aiming at Top of the World," which is still in effect today. We run Road and MTB racing teams that actively take part in overseas races in line with our philosophy of not concentrating only on domestic races but "Aiming at Top of the World," and we also provide support for the challenges the riders face and strive to nurture young riders. * The ANCHOR brand was developed with the emphasis placed on scientific analysis, guaranteed practicality for professional riders and as a Japanese product that would attract the attention of the entire world, and the concept was aimed at providing performance and emotional involvement for all athletes. The 2012 racing teams have been organized in a manner in which they are able to challenge the world. ANCHOR will continue to evolve together with the riders, and we will aim at contributing to the development of Japan's cycling sports. The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) registered Japan continental road team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM] Nobuhito Kubo (currently the coach) and Leproux Denis have been appointed as managers, and the team will consist of existing members Miyataka Shimizu, Kazuo Inoue and Kenji Itami, to which Ryota Nishizono (member of the Shimano Racing Team in 2011) and Hayato Yoshida (member of the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya in 2011) will be added alongside four European riders, Lebas Thomas (member of VC Ax en Province in 2011,) Sys Klaas (member of VC Rouen 76 in 2011,) Lemair Alexandre (member of VC Rouen 76 in 2011) and Sonnery Blaise (member of VC Caladois in 2011) to make a total of nine riders, and the team will take part in international UCI races held in Europe and Japan in order to be active on an international level. The under-23 road team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM U23] Akira Asada (Cyclisme Japon) has been appointed as manager, and the team will consist of Eiichi Hirai, Hiroshi Tsubaki, Takerou Terasaki, Yuya Akimaru, Wataru Mutsumine and Ohko Shimizu to make a total of six U23 riders, and the team will take part in European races and Japan's J Tour races in order to be active in the international U23 circuit. The MTB cross-country team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM] Raita Suzuki has been appointed as advisor and Tomaz Victor as manager, and the team will consist of existing members Seiya Hirano and Keiichi Tsujiura to which European racer Toki Sawada (member of ENDLESS/ProRide in 2011) to make a total of three riders, and the team will take part in European races and Japan's J Tour races in order to be active in the international circuit. [Reference Material] The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) registered Japan continental road team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM] A world-wide team that is ready to take on the world. Based in both the Normandy region of France and in Ageo City, Saitama, Japan, the team takes part in international European UCI races mostly in France and international UCI races in Japan, and is aiming at expanding its activities. Nobuhito Kubo, who has been involved in the team as a coach since 2007, has been appointed manager for Japan and Leproux Denis has been appointed manager for France, and Japanese riders Ryota Nishizono from Shimano Racing and Hayato Yoshida, who graduated from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. have been newly added to the team, along with a total of four riders from France and Belgium who will join the French team to create a team that is able to challenge the world. We are hoping that the activities of the young, promising and experienced riders from Europe, the home of cycle racing, will help nurture world-wide Japanese riders, and in addition to this, we believe that our active acceptance of riders who are able to challenge the world will contribute to the development of Japan's cycling sports. Managers: Nobuhito Kubo Leproux Denis (FRA) Riders: Miyataka Shimizu November 23, 1981 Kazuo Inoue February 17, 1981 Kenji Itami September 15, 1988 Ryota Nishizono, September 01, 1987, (member of the Shimano Racing Team in 2011) Hayato Yoshida, May 19, 1989, (member of the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya in 2011) Lebas Thomas (FRA,) December 14, 1985, (member of VC Ax en Province in 2011) Sys Klaas (BEL,) November 30, 1986, (member of VC Rouen 76 in 2011) Lemair Alexandre (FRA,) October 25, 1988, (member of VC Rouen 76 in 2011) Sonnery Blaise (FRA,) March 21, 1985, (member of VC Caladois in 2011) The under-23 road team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM U23] An U23 (under-23) amateur team ready to challenge the world. Consisting of Japanese riders who show much promise for the future, the team is based in Toulouse in France and in Ageo City, Saitama, Japan, and takes part in amateur races in Europe and J Tour races (corporate team races) in Japan, and is aiming at being active in the international U23 championships. Akira Asada, who has much experience in European races and is highly acclaimed for fostering new riders, has been appointed manager, and the team consists of riders dispatched to overseas club teams for training and now transferred across to this team face the challenges available in Europe. The team will take part in J Pro Tour corporate team races in Japan and contribute to raising an awareness of cycling sports in Japan. Manager: Akira Asada (Cyclisme Japon) Riders: Eiichi Hirai, November 18, 1990 Hiroshi Tsubaki, May 18, 1991 Takerou Terasaki, November 18, 1991 Yuya Akimaru, June 01, 1991 Wataru Mutsumine, January 30, 1992 Ohko Shimizu, March 12, 1993 The MTB cross-country team [BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR CYCLING TEAM] An MTB cross-country team ready to challenge the world. Based in Marseilles, France, the team takes part in the France Cup, World Cup races, international UCI races and J Series races in Japan in order to be active on the international circuit. Raita Suzuki, who is extremely experienced in overseas racing, has been appointed as adviser and Tomaz Victor (POR) will carry on as manager. Toki Sawada, who graduated from the junior category, has been newly added to the team to join Seiya Hirano. Keiichi Tsujiura will expand his base of operations to also be active in MTB cycle sports while participating in Japan's J Series. It has been agreed that Kohei Yamamoto's contract will be terminated. Advisor: Raita Suzuki Manager: Tomaz Victor (POR) Riders: Seiya Hirano, May 15, 1987 Keiichi Tsujiura, January 04, 1980 Toki Sawada, January 12, 1994 (member of ENDLESS/ProRide in 2011)