Cycling: Star-studded Japanese squad hopes to impact Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic at Geelong

A star-studded Japanese squad is bracing to make a powerful impact on the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic at Geelong on Friday ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.

Yumi Kajihara (JPN) after winning the Women's Launceston Wheel Race

A star-studded Japanese squad is bracing to make a powerful impact on the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic at Geelong on Friday ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.

Riders from Japan’s Olympic squad contested the Launceston Christmas carnival and immediately impressed with teenager Yumi Kajihara winning twice in two days.

The 18-year-old is part of the Novotel Geelong/Japan outfit, which also features world junior champion Shunsuke Inamura and national road champion Kazushige Kuboki.

Japan is using the four-race Mitchelton series as preparation for the August 5-21 Olympics.

Race director John Trevorrow said the Japanese contingent had sounded an ominous warning in Tasmania for the Bay series.

“It’s a high quality team in both the men and the women’s events,” Trevorrow said.

“They’re world class.

“They raced well in Tassie, they surprised everyone with their skill and speed. They are very attacking.”

Minami Uwano, second in last year’s world points race, and Keitaro Sawada, Japan’s national junior road champion, have also entered.

Dual Australian criterium champion Kimberley Wells will lead the strong High5 Dream Team before heading to the US this season to represent the Colavita Bianchi p/b Vittoria team.

Wells will be tested by Orica-AIS guns Chloe Hosking and Sarah Roy but will draw confidence from her previous attempts at the Bay Crits, which yielded a stage win and third overall in 2013.

Wiggle Honda’s Peta Mullens is another strong contender among the elite women.

The battle for stage and overall glory in the men’s competition is expected to be sharp and ferocious.

Defending champion Caleb Ewan (ORICA-GreenEDGE) is chasing a third crown, while Drapac’s 2014 series winner Brenton Jones is back after missing last season’s event.

Geelong’s Leigh Howard and Steele Von Hoff are among the favourites for the series.

Von Hoff told Cyclingnews the criterium format would provide an accurate gauge ahead of next week’s national championships at Ballarat.

“It would be a really good form indicator,” he said. “It would tell me where I am at.

“It’s something that I have been racing since I started cycling ... I’d like to win because I like to win bike races, but for me the national champs are my priority.”