Olympic Rider Recon Ride #1

My rides were not "course recon" but "rider recon", as in I was looking to catch a glimpse of the real riders doing THEIR course recon rides.

The first ride, Wednesday, July 21, started at Suruga-Oyama Station (home of the "Cyclegate Fuji" facility) and went over Kagozaka Pass, down Doshi Michi, and then across to Route 20 (Koshu Kaido) and Sagamiko Station. It was a beastly hot day ... but quite tolerable, even nice, for the middle 50% of the ride at slightly higher and cooler elevations.  I saw lots of Olympians, but snapped not enough photos. And on Doshi Michi it was mostly the women riders, as the men's race would focus on the climb to Fuji Skyline, and the other to Mikuni Pass.

My route

Olympic Mascots on the Oyama town hall

Hydrangea (ajisai) still lovely above 300-400m elevation

Shaded climb through Oyama

Mt Fuji - Sponsored by TEPCO

Mt Fuji - without the power lines. Approaching the Fuji Speedway area now

I am pretty sure this was on the TT course, just outside/below the Speedway.

On the climb to Subashiri

A park at Subashiri

Headed for Kagozaka. Three Slovenians whizzed by me heading down -- I only figured out who it was later when I investigated their national team kit.

At Kagozaka Pass

At the Doshi Michi end of Yamanakako

At Yamabushi Pass -- top of Doshi

That is Omar Shipira and another, male, Israeli cyclist training ...
She was in the breakaway 4 days later in the women's road race.

Friendly Australian Olympian
The whole team came by, including the men riding in a group of 4 that included Richie Porte and Rohan Dennis ... but i could not snap a photo before they rounded a bend.

The road is ready for ... spectators who would not show ... 

Many local teams were riding Doshi ...

The Michi no Eki

At the Doshimichi Micho-no-eki

The Japanese women Olympians (Eri Yonamine -- sponsored with Solestar insoles and NRC glasses courtesy of David Marx/RGT -- plus one)