Nuovo arrivo in casa NTT Pro Cycling: si tratta del campione giapponese Shotaro Iribe. La sua firma arriva a conclusione di una settimana molto importante durante la quale pè stato ufficializzato a Tokyo il progetto NTT Pro Cycling.

Iribe, 30 anni, è un corridore di grande esperienza che ha da otto stagioni milita nel Shimano Racing Team Continentale e dicenta il primo corridore giapponese a militare nel team sudafricano.

Quest’anno, oltre al titolo nazionale, ha colto vittorie di tappa al Tour of Thailand e al Tour de Kumano, ha anche gareggiato nel Test Event di Tokyo 2020 ed è in lotta per conquistare una maglia per la prova su strada delle Olimpiadi di casa.

Con la nuova maglia della NTT farà quindi il suo esordio nel WorldTour: «Sono molto felice di entrare a far parte della NTT Pro Cycling. Questo è il sogno che ho inseguito da quando ho iniziato a correre in bici. Non sarà facile competere a questo livello, ma sono determinato a dare tutto per il team mettendo nel lavoro tutta la mia energia e anima».

ENGLISH VERSION

NTT Pro Cycling is delighted to be able to announce the signing of the Japanese National Road Race Champion, Shotaro Iribe. His signing coincides with the conclusion of a very exciting week during which NTT Pro Cycling, formerly Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, was officially launched at the home of NTT in Tokyo, Japan.

Iribe, 30, is a highly experienced UCI Asian Tour rider having spent the past eight seasons on the continental Shimano Racing Team, and in the process becomes the first Japanese rider to race for us

He has been a very consistent performer on the Asian circuit but it has been over the past two seasons where he has really come into his own, as he raced to stage victories at both the Tour of Thailand and Tour de Kumano. 2019 saw Iribe earn the most prestigious result of his career, when he triumphed at the Japanese National Championships. Iribe also competed at the official Tokyo 2020 Olympic test event in July this year, as he eyes a place on the national team for a home Olympics road race.

Sporting our striking new NTT colours, and in his national champion’s jersey, Iribe is certain to bring huge excitement among the Japanese fans as we look to compete at the Japan Cup, among others, and he now takes the step up to the WorldTour.

Shotaro Iribe - Rider: “I am very happy to be able to join NTT Pro Cycling. This is the challenge that I have been aiming for since I started bike racing. No words can describe how happy I am. It's never easy to challenge at this top-level but I am determined that I will be racing for the team by putting all my energy and soul into it. I would like to thank all those who have made this possible. Thank you very much.”