Cycling: The Australian Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp) has won the Japan Cup in Utsunomiya for the second time after 2011. In a millimeter thriller he defeated the Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) and the Slovenian Grega Bole (Vini Fantini-Nippo).
At the end of the season, the pros had to complete ten laps on the almost 14-kilometre-long, hilly circuit in the Forest Park of the city north of Tokyo. In front of a home audience, a top quartet with drivers from Japanese teams determined the team's po at the top.
In the final, Garmin-Sharp and Sky took control of the field. The decisive group of the day formed on the last climb. In addition to the later podium, there were also a few drivers from the Tinkoff-Saxo team, who kept disrupting the race and were looking for their chance.
On the uphill home straight, Haas then had the most reserves and was able to save himself just ahead of Boasson Hagen. In the end, Tinkoff-Saxos Michael Valgren was fourth.