September 13, 2006 – Canada’s number one pro team, Symmetrics Cycling, has headed east for the 2006 Tour of Hokkaido! This six-stage event kicked off today with a 2.5km prologue and the boys in yellow-and-black are gunning for both stages and the overall. Look for some tough riding on each of the stages, with both some good climbs and unpredictable weather set to throw a wrench in the peloton.

Three-time Olympian, Eric Wohlberg, is already receiving heavy press at the 2006 event, being only one of two riders in the twenty-year history that is a multiple winner. The hard man from Levack, Ont. is a two-time winner of the event – can he make it a third?

The team will provide daily reports so be sure to check www.symmetricscycling.com for more info after each stage!

2006 Tour of Hokkaido

– 13/09/06 – Prologue – Asahikawa – 2.5 km (ITT)
– 14/09/06 – Stage 1 – Asahikawa-Nayoro – 169 km
– 15/09/06 – Stage 2 – Shibetsu-Fukagawa – 185 km
– 16/09/06 – Stage 3 – Higashikagura-Mikasa – 170 km
– 17/09/06 – Stage 4 – Bibai-Sapporo – 180 km
– 18/09/06 – Stage 5 – Sapporo Criterium – 30 km

Prologue

The 2006 Tour of Hokkaido started off with a bang for the Symmetrics Cycling team. Eric Wohlberg, two-time winner of this event, finished third, only two seconds behind the race leader Kazuhiro Mori of Team Aisan Racing.

The prologue was run over a technical 2.5-km bike path with two tight 90 degree turns after a steep downhill run in. Symmetrics’ Andrew Randell also posted a great time finishing well within the top ten, and Jake Erker and Jeff Shersitobitoff rode strong putting in times that were both within 10 seconds of the lead. Unfortunately, Marsh Cooper suffered a slow leak almost immediately after the start finishing a further 10 seconds behind Jake and Jeff. Overall the team is sitting well and highly motivated for the upcoming stages.

Results

1. Kazuhiro Mori Team Aisan Racing
2. Mariusz Wiesiak Team Nippo Racing
>B>3. Eric Wohlberg Symmetrics Cycling Team
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5. Andrew Randell Symmetrics Cycling Team