THE latest leg in the long career of Tasmanian cyclist Wes Sulzberger takes him back to the scene of two of his biggest triumphs.
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The 29-year-old’s decade-long professional cycling career includes stage victories in the 2006 Tour de Hokkaido and 2008 Tour of Japan and Sulzberger said he was excited about returning to the land of the rising sun.
Having signed a contract with Shingu-based continental team Kinan, Sulzberger spent a week getting to know his new teammates before flying on to Spain for a training camp and races.
‘‘I’m really pleased to have joined Kinan and am excited about my latest challenge,’’ he said.
An under-23 national road race champion and world championship runner-up in 2007, Sulzberger has since raced with Southaustralia.com-AIS (2006-08), Française des Jeux (2009-11), ORICA-GreenEDGE (2012-13), alongside brother Bernie at Drapac (2014) and Navitas Satalyst for 2015.
In the process, he graced the Tour de France in 2010, three editions of the Vuelta a Espana and various world championship teams, including helping Cadel Evans to victory in Switzerland in 2009.
Sulzberger has also picked up stage wins in the tours of Gippsland, Tasmania, Paris-Corrèze and claimed the 2010 Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan, but admitted Japan held special memories.
‘‘I won a stage in the Tour of Japan and was leading until it had an individual time trial up Mount Fuji,’’ he recalled.
The consolation of losing his 2008 race lead was seeing compatriot Cam Meyer take it off him and hold on for overall victory.
Originally from Flowery Gully, Sulzberger said a decisive element to joining fellow Tasmanian Jai
Crawford at Kinan was being able to remain based in Legana with wife Shannon and son Max, who turned one on January 7.
‘‘I can fly in and out for races and not many teams let you do that, so I jumped at it,’’ he said. ‘‘To be based at home with my family is really nice.
‘‘I’m mostly going to races in Japan and a few in Asia. Races like the Tour of Philippines, Thailand, Japan and Kumano are very important to the team.
‘‘This year, I was just racing in Australia and a bit in Asia, but to be able to stay at home was a really good opportunity and I’m looking forward to the new challenge.’’
After ending his time with Drapac in the Tasmanian Christmas criterium series, Sulzberger debuted for Kinan at the Australian road championships in Ballarat before flying to Osaka for team presentations and on to Spain where his commitments include a five-day tour in Valencia.