Sapporo - Mount Asahi (WT)   

In Sapporo, the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the World Tour riders line up on Odori, which literally means ‘large street’ in Japanese. From the park with the same name, the peloton sets in motion for this 176-kilometer-long race through the Hokkaido mountains.

Following the Ishikarigawa river out of the city, the riders deviate from the main roads near Mikasa, where they’ll have to ...

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In Sapporo, the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the World Tour riders line up on Odori, which literally means ‘large street’ in Japanese. From the park with the same name, the peloton sets in motion for this 176-kilometer-long race through the Hokkaido mountains.

Following the Ishikarigawa river out of the city, the riders deviate from the main roads near Mikasa, where they’ll have to conquer three hills. The Katsurazawa and Kondoyama won’t be all too difficult, but things will get a little tougher on Hiradake. After a short, steep descent the peloton finds itself in Kamifurano, where it will be up to the climbers to make their mark on the race.

The first serious challenge is Mount Tokachi, an ascent of almost 800 meters over the course of 15 kilometers. After a frantic downhill section towards Biei, the road to Lake Chubetsu keeps climbing ever so slightly, before turning towards the heavens once the best climbers have reached the slopes of Mount Asahi. From here it’s just 12 kilometers of relentless climbing towards the Asahidake Visitor Center.