| For the first time in thirteen years, there will be a Japanese rider lining up at the Prologue of the Tour de France. Not one, but two. Fumiyuki Beppu (Skil-Shimano) aims to be the first Japanese rider every to finish. At 26, he still has several more years to accomplish this goal, but currently riding for a second-tier team means that he must make the most of every opportunity. Yukiya Arashiro (Bbox) looks like a pop star and is Japan's greatest hope for Protour success in the next few years. At 24, he's a solid domestique for the BBox squad and although he might not finish in Paris this time around, it's very likely that he'll have several more attempts. So who will finish higher, or at all, between Beppu and Arashiro? And more importantly, who has the better hair? |