Both representatives of the Japanese team have distinguished themselves at the start of the season.

In recent months, we have gotten to know the JCL Team Ukyo better, the Japanese Continental team of former Formula 1 driver Ukyo Katayama, which, thanks to the skills and qualities of many Italian individuals within it, concluded the 2024 season with an overall tally of 16 victories and 94 top ten finishes.

This year, to try to first confirm and then improve on such a score, the team has also brought in two promising young riders born in 2002 who, perhaps, some might have noticed in these first races of 2025, namely Nahom Zeray and Marc Cabedo.

The Eritrean, in particular, rode an excellent Milano-Torino, finishing 20th after being in the lead group until the approach to the final climb of Superga, while the Spaniard made full use of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali stage race, winning the Mountains Classification jersey at the end of the five days.

Both equipped with a promising climbing pace, the two undoubtedly have considerable room for improvement and, continuing with the approach shown so far, they can certainly try to explore it. In this regard, and to get to know the guys a bit better, we consulted Manuele Boaro, who from the team car is among those accompanying them in their growth path, guiding them properly and providing the right advice.

Manuele, what can you tell us about them? What can we expect?

"Zeray has a bit more experience compared to Cabedo, he has already won in Rwanda, he's a guy who, in the past, has already raced in somewhat more structured teams and wants to make a name for himself: we'll see if he succeeds in the upcoming races he'll participate in. Cabedo, instead, is a very young guy and is trying to learn as much as possible: he comes from amateur racing and sometimes asks me questions because until recently he raced in a certain way. Here he needs to switch his mentality, he needs to learn to understand that the level has risen and therefore you really need to be on point every single moment. He is clearly improving race after race, and it will be interesting to see how he develops. We hope he grows and can become someone important."

If you were to tell me about two aspects that particularly strike you about these two guys?

"They are both young guys who are working very hard, and this can only please us. During the pre-race meeting, for example, they are very attentive, they ask many questions, and it's a pleasure for us to give them information."

Are Milano-Torino type finishes the ones that suit them best?

"Yes. They are guys who find their bread and butter when the road goes up because they are extremely lean, while they might have some problems on descents or flat terrain."

What can we expect from them, in your opinion?

"Our hope is that they continue to grow as they are doing, but being young, the important thing is not to have too much haste because burning stages can be a problem."

Have they been welcomed well in the team? Can more experienced riders like Fancellu give them important advice...

"Certainly. Alessandro comes from experiences within ProTeam squads and can give them a lot. The guys are generally always together, even at the table, they joke, laugh, they form a group, which is something we also try to do with Alberto (Volpi, ed). As last year, there's a great atmosphere in the group, and this is important to race well regardless of results."

Will the guys try to approach races always aggressively, going in breakaways and trying to showcase themselves as much as possible?

"Our idea is not to go in a breakaway just to be seen. We think that going in a breakaway also serves to get to know oneself, understand one's condition... When working with young riders, you need to make them understand that taking wind doesn't hurt. Moreover, going in a breakaway is something that gives you morale and, on those occasions when they arrive, it also gives you a chance to play for something. You always have to try because you never know. Then, obviously, at World Tour level, it's all more tactical, but in other races, the breakaway can come or not come, so to avoid being frustrated at the end of the stage in these situations, it's right that if you have the legs and if a good group breaks away, you try to be in it. Sometimes those tactical situations are created where those in the group argue about who should close, and those ahead have space. This happens often lately even in important races, and so if you're already in the breakaway, you're at an advantage. Then, even knowing how to go in a breakaway is already a good job because if you start from behind, you miss it, so you have to be mentally prepared, be up front and know what awaits you: getting to move like this is already a good milestone."