Re Interview

Shogo
Ichimaru 一丸 尚伍

2022.12.13

Having it Both Ways with Keirin and Road Racing

“You never know what could happen in a race until you reach the finish line. Just hang in there, whatever the conditions.” Shogo Ichimaru remains firm in his convictions. He became a professional Keirin cyclist this year, but hasn’t given up on his career as a road cyclist either. This dual-pronged approach is powered by Ichimaru’s unrivalled passion for cycling.

― Did the pandemic alter your life as a cyclist significantly?

Yes, I became a Keirin cyclist. I graduated from the Japan Institute of Keirin in March 2022 and made my professional debut in July. I’d competed professionally in both road and track races previously, but this year Keirin will be the focus on my activities. I do intend to return to road racing soon, though.

― So you’ll be doing a Keirin and road racing double act. Are there any other cyclists who’ve done the same thing before?

I know of only three, so I think it’s rare. People ask me why I chose such a difficult pathway, but the answer is simply that I love cycle racing, so I really want to try my hand at a variety of things, not just Keirin. It’s going to be tough because the two types of cycling are completely different and require you to use different sets of muscles, but I think I’ll be OK if I’m careful with my training and nutritional balance. I’m already used to juggling both road and track racing, so it’s like Keirin has just been added to the mix. Keirin has its own distinct style, but I’ve always favored short-distance racing anyway, so it wasn’t that hard to adjust. The enjoyment outweighs any uncertainty right now.

― Why did you decide to get involved in Keirin in the first place?

Becoming a father prompted me to rethink my future. Road racing is something I can do now, but it’s financially insecure and will be difficult to continue in the long term. In Keirin, if you perform well you can earn prizemoney, and you have a longer competitive lifespan than road racing. That’s why I decided to give it a go. People had been encouraging me to become a Keirin racer before that, but I hadn’t been interested. I also thought about quitting road racing and getting a regular job, but I just love cycling too much. I thought that by getting involved in Keirin I could do what I love at the same time as earning an income, as well as having time to spend with my family.

― What are you next goals?

There are Keirin races two or three times a month, and in between them I hope to compete in road races as well, to get some variation and balance. I want to continue competing until I’m 50, so I need to achieve solid results. My aim is to get into S Class in Keirin, and once I do, a new goal will come into view. As for road racing, I want to focus on my performance and keep competing until I’m satisfied with what I’ve achieved.