Training Report - Mt.Tokachidake (Mt.Tokachi) 13

The direct road to Kamifurano (foot of the mountain) from Sapporo is still closed after the closure due to avalanche risks (cf. Training Reports / Asari Pass 4 (the rport isn't uploaded yet). So we all came to Kamifurano via Ashibetsu except for Mr.Suzuki who lives in Furano.

It's first time for Dr.Zen to participate in our training in winter although he's been riding another road racing bike for snow since long time ago. This time, he composed a new bike as his ex-bike had become old.

Mr.Suzuki composed a new bike as well. But he couldn't arrange financially. So he had to content with composing a mtb insteed of a road racing bike for snow.

We climb talking together as usual switching the head.

A small sprint.

The Mt.Furanodake (Mt.Furano) is towering in front of us.

We passed the bifurcation and entered the section where the gradient is 140 per mill. Two doctors began to drop and ther were left behind.

Mr.Suzuki leads and K stays bihind his wheel.

Dr.Zen and Dr.K try not to let the gap increase.

After passing the steep part, Mr.Suzuki and K waited for the others. We regrouped and climb together again.

From here, we climbed seriously. In the climb of 13 per cent of gradient, K attacked. But Mr.Suzuki catched him up easily.

Mr.Suzuki leads the next 14 per cent climb. 600 metres before the summit, K renounced to follow Mr.Suzuki.

Mr.Suzuki is making the last approach to the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs.

K tries to catch up Mr.Suzuki. But he's already to the limit.

Mr.Suzuki arrived first to the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs.

K arrived there 50 seconds later.

Dr.K is approaching the summit.

Dr.Zen pursues Dr.K.

Dr.K tries to decrease the gap.

Dr.Zen doesn't renounce to catch up Dr.K who is just 10 seconds in front of him.

Dr.K arrived to the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs 2 minutes 50 seconds later.

Dr.Zen arrived there 3 minutes 5 seconds later than the first to arrive.

A souvenir photo at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs.

We are preparing for the descent wearing ski glasses. However, Dr.Zen doesn't have ski glasses because he wasn't aware of its necessity as it's the first time for him to ride at such a high altitude in winter.

K broke away.

The others stay in group.

K arrived first to the bifurcation. Mr.Suzuki who had broken away from the group arrrived there second. After a while, Dr.K and Dr.Zen arrived. We lunched at a restaurant situated just at the bifurcation.

After the lunch, we resumed our course.

K leads. Mr.Suzuki stays behind the wheels of K. In the middle of the descent, Mr.Suzuki passed K. Mr.Suzuki leads for a while. Once the gap began to increase but K catched him up soon in the straight. Mr.Suzuki tries to outdistance in the corners using the characteristic of mtb. But K who falls behind in the corners catches um Mr.Suzuki soon in the straight using the characteristic of road racing bike for snow. MTB has advantages in corners and road racing bike for snow has advantages in straight. So they couldn't make definite lead on each other. It'll be decided only in the sprint.

They did a long sprint and K won the descent. Mr.Suzuki arrived soon to the foot.

During the descent, Dr.K crashed. Dr.Zen waited for him recover. And they arrived about one minute later.