Japan Cup 2009 - Sörensen Solo
Saxo Bank's Chris Anker Sörensen ends the season  with a solo victory in the 18th Edition of the Japan Classic.  Last battle of the season - Caisse d'Epargne's Dani Moreno and Liquigas' Ivan Santaromita fill out the podium.

Chris Anker Sörensen proved to be the strongest at the finish launching a solo attack with the help of team mates led by Jens Voigt and Gustav Larrson. Sörensen led 6 chasers to the line holding onto a 24 second gap on the hilly 14 kilometer circuit in Utsunomiya.

Caisse d'Epargne's Dani Moreno led and won the sprint for the second podium step over Liquigas' Ivan Santaromita third. Juanjo Cobo (Fuji/Servetto)  fought a tough battle to gain a spot on the podium but he would come up short in a close sprint at the line by his chase companions Moreno and Santaromita.

Caisse d'Epargne playing a large role in the chase finished with Pablo Lastras rounding out the top 5 at 41 seconds with teammate Joaquin Rodriguez in for sixth place grabbing 3 of the top six places in the race.

 Sörensen launched an epic series of attacks on his opponents within the last 40 kilometers of the course along with a strong riding Jens Voigt; the young Danish climber finally succeeded in leaving the field behind. The chase was led by Caisse d'Epargne and Fuji/Servetto and Liquigas but soon the chasers were split on the final steep climb before the finish.

Chris Anker Sørensen crossed the finish line alone and put an astonishing end to his season where he was more often seen helping his teammates in their mission to succeed. Today, he took the initiative and brought home the victory in the empire of the sun.

For Team Saxo Bank, it was the last race of the 2009 season and so the team of Bjarne Riis can end to the year on a high note with the victory two continents away from their home turf. The team was represented in the race by Jens Voigt, Nicki Sørensen, Gustav Larsson, Michael Mørkøv and Chris Anker Sørensen.

Two time winner of the cup and defending champion Damiano Cunego did not appear in the race having stayed in Italy for the Giro d'Italia 2010 presentation.

Top Japanese rider was 35 year old veteran Shinri Suzuki of Shimano Racing who finished at 2:09 in 9th place. Taiji Nishitani, (Aisan Racing Team) and Takashi Miyazawa  (Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design) filled out the national podium. 

D.S. Torsten Schmidt after the race Sunday morning...
"Chris and Jens opened the race with 40 kilometers to go which of course suited Chris like a glove with a short circular route with a large climb to pass ten times. It is a great way to finish the season and it is rewarding to be the sports director for energetic and enthusiastic riders like these who are still motivated in the very last part of the season.”

Fuji Servetto
The team said goodbye to the 2009 cycling season with the Japan Cup held in Utsunomiya, and did a nice race by hobnobbing with the podium placers with its best rider in the season’s end, Juanjo Cobo. The rider from Cantabria concluded the Asian race in fourth spot, as the UCI 1.HC race finished after 151.4 kilometers with a solo victory by Danish Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank). Cobo gave great exposure  to the team in the last laps out of 14 in the Nippon course in Utsunomiya, fighting for the second place until the very last minute with Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas) and Dani Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne), who was able to only snatch the runner-up position, despite his team’s superiority. The rest of the team riders –Kessiakoff, De la Fuente and specially Tonti and Capecchi- did a great representation for the Blue Squad’s last competition of the year, helping Cobo in his attempt to be on the podium.

2009 Japan Cup
151.3 km - 4:06:19 -  36.9 km/h
1 22 Den Sörensen, Chris Anker Team Saxo Bank 4:06:19 
2 4 Esp Moreno, Daniel Gce Caisse d'Epargne 00:24
3 34 Ita Santaromita Villa, Ivan Liq Liquigas 00:24 
4 44 Esp Cobo, Juan Jose  Fuji-Servetto   00:24
5 2 Esp Lastras, Pablo Caisse d'Epargne  00:41

6 1 Esp Rodriguez, Joaquin Caisse d'Epargne  01:00
7 32 Ita Agnoli, Valerio Liquigas  01:26
8 51 Ita Visconti, Giovanni Isd Isd - Neri  01:26
9 93 Jpn Suzuki, Shinri Shimano Racing 2:09  1
10 25 Swe Larsson, Gustav Erik Team Saxo Bank   02:09 
11 15 Sui Tschopp, Johann  Bbox Bouygues Telecom  2:09 
12 81 Jpn Nishitani, Taiji Aisan Racing Team  2:21  2
13 72 Jpn Miyazawa, Takashi  Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design 02:21 3
14 101 Jpn ijima, Makoto Team Bridgestone Anchor  02:21  4
15 71 Jpn Shimizu, Miyataka Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design  02:21  5
16 85 Jpn Shinagawa, Masahiro Aisan Racing  02:24 6
17 45 Esp De La Fuente, David Fuji-Servetto 4:08:43 02:24 36.5km/H
18 73 Jpn Fukushima, Shinichi Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design  03:01 7
19 91 Jpn Nodera, Hidenori Smn Shimano Racing  03:01  8
20 121 Jpn Doi, Yukihiro  Japan National Team 03:01  9
21 104 Jpn Itami, Kenji Bgt Team Bridgestone Anchor  03:01  10
22 92 Jpn Kano, Tomoya Smn Shimano Racing  03:05
23 33 Fin Carlstrom, Kjell Liq Liquigas 03:21 
24 31 Ita Basso, Ivan Liq Liquigas 03:21 
25 54 Ita Proni, Alessandro Isd Isd - Neri   03:21
26 41 Swe Kessiakoff, Fredrik Fuj Fuji-Servetto 03:21
27 5 Esp Erviti, Imanol Caisse d'Epargne 03:21 36.4km/H
28 11 Jpn Arashiro, Yukiya Bbo Bbox Bouygues Telecom 03:25 
29 74 Jpn Nakajima, Yasuharu Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design 04:34 
30 84 Jpn Mori, Kazuhiro Ais Aisan Racing Team 4:10:57 04:38 
31 21 Ger Voigt, Jens Sax Team Saxo Bank  05:13 
32 63 Jpn Naganuma, Takayuki Blz Blitzen Utsunomiya Pro   05:17
33 83 Jpn Suzuki, Kenichi Ais Aisan Racing Team  05:22 
34 103 Jpn Fukuhara, Masaru Bgt Team Bridgestone Anchor   07:59 
35 125 Jpn Hiratsuka, Yoshimitsu Jpn Japan National Team 08:49 
36 43 Ita Tonti, Andrea Fuj Fuji-Servetto 12:12 
37 53 Ita Mirenda, Gianluca Isd Isd - Neri 12:12 
38 95 Jpn Hatanaka, Yusuke Smn Shimano Racing  12:12 
39 13 Fra Le Floch, Guillaume Bbo Bbox Bouygues Telecom 12:12 
40 113 Jpn Wakumoto, Masaki Mtr Matrix Powertag 12:12 
41 123 Jpn Komori, Ryohei Japan National Team 
42 24 Den Sörensen, Nicki  Sax Team Saxo Bank
43 12 Fra Guay, Julien Bbo Bbox Bouygues Telecom
44 62 Jpn Shimizu, Yoshiyuki Blz Blitzen Utsunomiya Pro 12:12 
45 75 Jpn Kikuchi, Masaaki Eqa-Meitan Hompo-Graphite Design 12:12 
46 114 Jpn Sawada, Kensho Mtr Matrix Powertag 12:12 
47 124 Jpn Aoyanagi, Kazuki Jpn Japan National Team 12:12 
48 122 Jpn Nishizono, Ryota Jpn Japan National Team 12:12
Starters: 63
Abandons: 15 (listed below palmares)

Japan Cup Palmares
1992 - 2009

Abandons
 Jpn Yamamoto, Masamichi Team Bridgestone Anchor
 Jpn Suzuki, Yuzuru Smn Shimano Racing Team
 Ita Vona, Emanuele Isd Isd - Neri
 Fra Sprick, Matthieu Bbox Bouygues Telecom
 Den Vandborg, Brian Bach Liq Liquigas
Jpn Beppu, Takumi Aisan Racing Team
Jpn Mukaigawa, Naoki Matrix Powertag
 Jpn Saito, Shota Blitzen Utsunomiya Pro 
 Fukuda, Shimpei Team Bridgestone Anchor
Jpn Kosaka, Hikaru Blitzen Utsunomiya Pro
Esp Lopez, David Gce Caisse d'Epargne
Ita Gatto, Oscar Isd Isd - Neri
Den Morkov, Michael Sax Team Saxo Bank
Jpn Hirose, Yoshimasa/ Blz Blitzen Utsunomiya Pro
Jpn Tsuji, Yoshimitsu Mtr Matrix Powertag