Olympic Time Trials at Fuji Speedway - Women's TT

I got a message from a friend last week that his friend had an extra ticket and was looking for someone who wanted to see the two road cycling time trials on Wednesday, July 28, at Fuji Speedway in Oyama/Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. Apparently Peter S. and his wife Michiyo had gotten the tickets, but Michiyo ended up working as a coordinator of the interpreters for the cycling events, so they had a spare ticket. I jumped at the chance.

Spectator ticket? What? I thought this was a "no spectator Olympics". Well, apparently the decision is up to the governor. Most governors have not allowed spectators in events in Saitama, Kanagawa, Fukushima and elsewhere. But the Shizuoka governor allowed them so the tickets remain valid. Maybe 1 out of 100 Olympic events that allowed spectators!

I had entered the lottery for many of the track cycling events at Shuzenji CSC velodrome, but not for the road race or time trial events where there was seating at Fuji Speedway. It seemed like a long way to go to watch a TT from the stands of a massive motor circuit. And I figured that if I could actually get to Gotemba/Oyama -- it would be a long day getting there and back -- I could watch from somewhere out on the course. 

But by the time this invitation came up, I had already had a taste of watching the best in the world, and wanted more. 

I left home at 430AM and rode my Pelso Brevet 62kms to Hiratsuka. I had planned to try and get to Kozu, 3 stops further SW along the coast, but was not sure I would be in time to catch the connecting Gotemba Line train, nor that I would want a ride of more than 70kms back at night. So I parked my bicycle and got a Tokaido Line train to Kozu, then a 747AM Gotemba Line train for Gotemba. I next took a 20-25 minute 9AM shuttle bus (the last schedule one available before the roads closed ... though it turned out that they also at a 930AM shuttle) to the Fuji Speedway. We walked what seemed a very long way, and then started through the entry procedures -- ticket check, etc. I was in the stadium at my seat by 945AM, for an 1130AM start to the women's TT. Peter joined me a few minutes later.

We noticed that the start of the TT was just a few hundred meters beyond the end of the viewing stands ... and would have the riders heading AWAY from us out onto the course. And the finish line was a few hundred meters in the other direction from our (inexpensive "B" class) seating area. Fortunately, the riders would come by us once after the entered the speedway and before a short final loop that brought them onto the finish straightaway. And we would be able to see them as the finished and barreled down the raceway -- in fact, the "hot seat" where the leader would sit was beyond us, and the media booths for rider interviews were just below us. So we could see plenty of the action. And we could see across into the areas where teams would be warming up.

Anyway, Annemiek Van Vleuten crushed it, and another Dutch rider took the bronze, so the Dutch got 2 of the 3 medals with the Swiss getting Silver. Van Vleuten was obviously elated to win -- erasing the severe criticism of the Dutch team tactics that followed the road race. We could see her parading around with the Dutch team entourage after the medal ceremony. As Tom Dumoulin warmed up for the Men's TT more than an hour later, she was STILL elated, wearing the medal and visibly celebrating.

Bike parking at Hiratsuka Station S entrance -- 200 yen for 24 hrs

Volunteer briefing -- from the shuttle bus

Fuji Speedway approach never looked better.

Flowers grown by local school children to commemorate the event

Finally, on the grounds.

View toward the finish line w telephoto

Complimentary cooling ice

Complimentary cardboard fan

Free seat cover -- insulated for cooling

Fuji Speedway

Somehow I think we may be watching the end on TV?

The start area

Dutch team / Van Vleuten parade

Still showing off her gold medal ... as Dumoulin warms up in the backgronnd. He was in the last Men's stasrt wave (of 3) so was riding after 4PM in the afternoon!