October 12th – Oita Stage Race Report

Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Oita Stage (Stage 1)

The Oita Stage, which marked the opening of the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024, took place over 137.72 km from Beppu to Hita. In a sprint finish among four riders who broke away on the final climb, Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) claimed victory. Jeannière also took the lead in the overall individual classification, earning the blue leader’s jersey.

The first day of the event, the Oita Stage, began at the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University campus in Beppu and finished at Ohara Hachimangu Shrine in Hita, covering 137.72 km. On the second categorized climb at Kuju, TotalEnergies’ Mattèo Vercher and Thomas Bonnet successfully broke away.

However, the main group increased its pace on the second categorized climb at Shikisai Road, absorbing the two riders. With 60 km remaining, Kristian Sbaragli (Corratec Vini Fantini) launched a solo attack, gaining nearly a three-minute lead over the peloton.

The main group, controlled by WorldTeams and ProTeams like Astana Qazaqstan, EF Education-EasyPost, and TotalEnergies, gradually closed the gap. Sbaragli was caught during the final lap of the circuit set in Hita City.

With 5 km remaining, on the final climb, Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-EasyPost), winner of the Kokura Castle Criterium, attacked. The sprint finish came down to four riders, with Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) coming out on top.

Jeannière claimed both the overall individual classification and the points classification. Vercher, who was in the early breakaway, took the mountain classification, while Nerurkar, who finished second on the stage, secured the Best Young Rider’s jersey.

Results of Oita Stage (Stage 1):

1st: Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) – 03:17:28
2nd: Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-EasyPost)
3rd: Anton Charmig (Astana Qazaqstan)

Overall Individual Classification:

1st: Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) – 03:17:28
2nd: Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-EasyPost) +3s
3rd: Anton Charmig (Astana Qazaqstan) +6s

Comments from Emilien Jeannière, Stage Winner & Overall Leader:

“I wasn’t feeling my best before the race. EF launched an attack on the final climb, but my teammate and I managed to hang on, and things played out well for us. I’m confident in my sprint, so it turned out to be a good race.”

Comments from Lukas Nerurkar, Best Young Rider:

“I did what I could, and it was a fun day. I didn’t expect such an intense first stage, but the team performed well, so it was a great start.”

The second stage of the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024, the Kumamoto Aso Stage, will be contested over 108.46 km from Minamioguni to Minamiaso.

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