Felix Engelhardt Concludes Stellar Season With Second Place at Japan Cup
German cyclist Felix Engelhardt wrapped up his remarkable 2023 season with an impressive second-place finish at the Japan Cup. Engelhardt, who currently rides for Team Jayco AlUla, showcased his attacking style and aggression in the race held in Utsunomiya. Although he couldn’t outdo the experienced Rui Costa, Engelhardt’s performance solidified his standout debut season with Team Jayco AlUla.
Engelhardt commented on the challenging race conditions: “It was raining at the start so they shortened the race by three laps, so it was to be expected that it would be quite a hard race because the descent was quite technical and you didn’t really lose much if you’re at the front, so it was basically full gas right from the beginning.”
Engelhardt described the race dynamics, saying, “A fairly big group went up the road with [Lucas] Hamilton and me, Eddie [Dunbar] managed to come across but I think it cost him a bit too much in the end. Then it was just constant attacks and it kept splitting up, and Hamilton and I managed to get into a group of about 15 guys with a few laps to go.”
Reflecting on his final push for the podium, Engelhardt explained, “Then I got into another group with three laps to go with Bauke Mollema and Guillaume Martin, then with two laps to go we closed up to Rui, but in the final unfortunately I found myself on the front. In the last kilometer, I tried to go early, but I didn’t quite have the legs anymore and I blew up in the last 75 meters.”
Despite narrowly missing out on victory, Engelhardt expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I’m really happy with the result, and it’s great to get a result again after struggling a bit at the Vuelta. I think we did a really good job as a team, Hamilton and I were always there, covering moves, so I think we have to be happy with the result.”
The Japan Cup proved to be a fitting end to Engelhardt’s breakout season, which included notable wins at the Per Sempre Alfredo and Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. With his impressive performances, Engelhardt has solidified his status as a rising star in the world of cycling.
The final results of the 2023 Japan Cup were as follows:
1. Rui Costa 3:28:22
2. Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
3. Guillaume Martin +0:02
[Photo: Sprint Cycling]
