Inside the wonderful world of Kirin Racing: Matthew Richardson and Harrie Lavreysen on Japanese track adventure

Track cycling stars Matthew Richardson and Harrie Lavreysen are among the first riders this year to receive UCI permission to compete in the prestigious Keirin series in Japan. International track stars were excluded from the competition on the other side of the world during and after the COVID-19 period, but from this year, six riders are once again allowed to take part. Lavreysen reported his experience to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Lavreysen is the Olympic champion of the discipline that has its roots in Japan. Yet his first visit to the country was mainly to get used to the very different way the sport is practised there. Gambling on racing is a major part of the culture in Japan, which was one of the UCI's key reasons for previously banning international athletes from competing.

Ahead of this summer, agreements were reached that allow Lavreysen, British riders Richardson and Joseph Truman, and the women Hetty van der Wouw, Ellesse Andrews and Mathilde Gros to compete in the Japanese Keirin series again. To prepare, the Dutch contingent made a three-week trip to Japan.

"This return will take place under strict conditions relating to sporting integrity, including race manipulation and anti-doping, and to ensure there are no conflicts between the Japanese competitions and major track cycling events on the international UCI calendar," the UCI emphasised when announcing the renewed partnership.

"There are very strict rules we have to comply with, and we even had to take exams," Lavreysen explains to De Telegraaf. Riders must cut themselves off from the outside world three days before each competition — including handing in their mobile phones. "That's already going to be tough for me, because I'm addicted to my phone," he laughs.

"But it goes much further than that. You're not even allowed to celebrate when you cross the finish line — you have to keep both hands on the handlebars. All of this is to prevent you from giving any kind of signal to the crowd, who are betting on us."

"You also have to declare your tactics in advance — for example, which rider's wheel you plan to follow, so it's clear to everyone who is doing what. People can use that information to decide who to bet on," says Lavreysen, who will be allowed to compete in Japan during June, July and August.

All in all, it's quite an experience for the Dutch hero of track cycling. "Matthijs [Büchli] has done this before and said he benefited from it. All the travel won't help, but it's at least an advantage that Richardson [his biggest rival] is there too, and that I'll be able to train a lot with him. That will make me stronger regardless," he concludes.