The Japan Cup was the last race of the professional career of Takashi Miyazawa, but he was not the only Japanese star to call it a day there. As reported bybiciciclismo, three other leaders of Japanese cycling have decided to hang their bikes up: Miyataka Shimizu, Taiji Nishitani and Kazuhiro Mori.

Shimizu, 33, has scored this season the great satisfaction of the call up for the road race at the World Championships in Ponferrada, even managing to finish. A professional since 2004, he wore the jerseys of Bridgestone - Anchor (2004-2005), Team Vang (2006), Nippo - Meitan Hompo (2007-2009) and again Bridgestone - Anchor (2010-2014). In his career he has shown good skills in stage races, winning ten UCI races, most notably the final GC of Paris-Correze in 2008.

Nishitani, 33, has been a pro since 2006 and has always raced with the Asian Racing Team. An accomplished sprinter, he won 24 UCI races in his career, among which the National Championship in 2009 and a stage in the Tour de Langkawi in 2010. In 2011, he was close to success in the Japan Cup, but had to surrender to Nathan Haas.

Mori, 32, like Nishitani, is a professional since 2006 and has always raced with the Asian Racing Team. A Fast long-distance rider, he won eight UCI races in his career, most notably the National TT championships in 2009. His greatest achievements, however, came on the track in 2010: a bronze medal in the scratch race at the World Championships, a specialty in which he also won a round of the World Cup in 2008-2009.

All three were still be able to greet their fans one last time at the Saitama Criterium yesterday.