Before discovering the new circuit of Saitama tomorrow, the riders enjoyed a day of cultural discoveries concocted with care by their Japanese hosts. With Chris Froome as a ninja warrior, Marcel Kittel as Samurai or Mark Cavendish as sushi master, the Tour de France champions delighted the Japanese public, who came as many as ever to welcome them.
THE JAPANESE PUBLIC GOT THE COLORS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE
“Wooow” – exclaimed Kenny Elissonde, eyes wide open, when he discovered the Japanese public came in droves to celebrate the Tour de France. Under a radiant sun, they were several thousand gathered before the big yellow scene, eager to see their favorite. In the audience, we could meet here a young woman fully dressed in the colors of Austria, encouraging Bernhard Eisel. A little further, we found this gentleman with a huge British flag with glittery letters that said “Go Froomey”. In the village of partners created for the occasion, fans could buy equipment and cycling clothes but also hats and forks to disguise themselves as “El Diablo”. The mascot of the Tour de France, moreover, took a new walkabout while walking in the alleys. After the session of selfies and autographs, the presenter of the show began the presentation of the teams who will take part in the race tomorrow, under the watch of Marie-Odile Amaury, owner of Amaury Sport Organization, coming from Paris to participate in the party.
CHRIS THE NINJA: IN THE MILE!
The music accelerated, adopting a rhythm more and more jerky while appeared on scene a small army of warriors Ninja and Samurai, in resplendent traditional costumes, which offered to the public a demonstration of martial arts. A fight against the forces of Evil that could not be won without reinforcement. At this precise moment and in a staging worthy of a Hollywood film, Warren Barguil and Marcel Kittel made their entrance on stage to save the fighter in danger. Dressed also in Samurai outfits, the two former teammates had the honor of learning fighting techniques from the great masters. Christopher Froome and Greg Van Avermaet, for their part, played two Ninja warriors. In Japanese culture, the Ninja were specially trained combatants for espionage and infiltration. Today, the tradition has come alive on stage through an impressive throwing of Japanese jet weapons between the yellow jersey and the Olympic champion. And Chris Froome is as good at Japanese star throwing as on a bike. At first try, it was in the middle!
CAVENDISH, MASTER UNAGI
The second activity proposed by the hosts of Saitama was also not for sensitive souls, although easier to digest. A pool full of eels in their arms, the presenter of the show asked volunteers among the runners to indulge in an eel fishing duel with bare hands! Encouraged by his teammates eager to see him face to face with the famous fish, Fabio Sabatini is the first to climb on stage to face the beast, quickly followed by Mark Cavendish, who discovers Saitama on this edition. After some unsuccessful attempts (and some backward movements), Sabatini finally mastered the ancestral art of fishing Unagi, specialty of the city of Saitama. Dressed in kitchen aprons, Cavendish joined by Uran then learned how to cut and cook the eel in the rules of art before descending the stage to give their culinary experience to other runners. Nathan Haas gave his verdict: “Finally … it was rather successful! “.
“THE NIGHT OF THE TOUR” LIVE
In Japan, fervor never goes out. Back at the hotel, many fans were still waiting to be autographed and selfies with the champions, welcomed as true guests of honor. Here, the Tour de France is a party that is celebrated as it should and live, please! The newcomer Mark Cavendish but also Chris Froome, Warren Barguil and Rigoberto Uran were in the evening the guests of the inevitable “Night of the Tour”, a live broadcast of the J-Sports channel, broadcaster of the Tour de France since 1998. program: interviews, games, quirky questions to the applause of this incredible Japanese audience.
