Japan Represents in the Tour de France

I -- and probably a lot of folks -- have spent the last three weeks obsessing over the Tour's leading riders (especially Lance in his fantastic comeback), but as the race turns toward Paris, it's time to pay homage to everybody who will finish!

Here is a little news for you. Among that glorious number of conquering heroes are two Japanese athletes. This is the first year that the same Tour has had two Japanese participants, and they will both ride triumphantly into Paris.

(In the history of the Tour, there have been 2 other Japanese cyclists, but neither one finished.)

So! For the 2009 Tour, congratulations and best wishes to Yukiya Arashiro of Bbox Bouygues Telecom and Fumiyuki Beppu of Skil-Shimano! (Just saw the two of them riding and chatting. Sweet.)