WATABE Kasuga competing in a mountain bike event at the World University Cycling Championships
WATABE Kasuga (4th year, School of Political Science and Economics) of the Cycling Club participated in the 2024 World University Cycling Championships in Costa Rica, held from May 29 to June 2 in Costa Rica, as an all-university team member. In the criterium event held on the first day, she won fourth place against overseas athletes who were bigger than her. In addition to criterium, WATABE competed in all five events: time trial, road race, mountain bike XCE, and mountain bike XCO, and won several prizes.She participated in the 9th Individual Road Time Trial Competition of the All Japan Student Championships, held on June 8 and 9, shortly after coming back to Japan and won her second championship with a time of 36 min. 47 sec. (41.1 km/h).
Comments from WATABE Kasuga
At the World University Cycling Championships in Costa Rica, I had a hard schedule, competing in all five events in five days. It took nearly 40 hours to travel owing to flight delays and lost luggage, and I arrived in the morning the day before the race. Furthermore, the time difference was 15 hours, so I couldn’t adjust my physical condition, and I couldn’t run satisfactorily in the first half.
The most important thing to reflect on this time was the fact that cyclists from Europe, where cycling is very popular, were in front of the race and I was behind. I’ll practice more to be able to run aggressively.
During this trip, I was able to interact with cyclists and staff from many countries through Costa Rican culture and food, for example. Although it was a short period of one week, I’m grateful for the many races, many encounters, and the best experiences that I had on almost the opposite side of the world from Japan.
I participated in the All Japan Student Championships just after I came back from Costa Rica and was still tired, but I think I could show what I could do at the time. Big race events will continue every week from now on, so I want to get back in shape and improve my condition.
WATABE Kasuga competing in the Individual Road Time Trial Competition at the All Japan Student Championships