"Dave Fossett" <reply@via.newsgroup> wrote in message news:<VKXUa.19$U8.9@news1.dion.ne.jp>...
> John W. wrote:
> 
> > Out of 148 riders finishing the race, not one is from Japan (or any
> > Asian country, I believe). Just strikes me as odd somehow.
> 
> I wondered about that too. It's strange considering the popularity of keirin
> in Japan. As Kevin says, maybe they are just not used to hills.

Thing about that is, even in track racing the Japanese aren't really
all that big on an international scale. I know Keirin is different in
many aspects, but the skills needed by the individual rider are
similar.

John W.