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Gallery 2013: Through the lens of Sonoko Tanaka

Japanese photographer shares her memories of the season

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The peloton riding on a typical Bretague road near the sea, Tro Bro Leon 2013

The peloton riding on a typical Bretague road near the sea, Tro Bro Leon 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Young spectators come forward at the award ceremony of Tour de Singkarak

Young spectators come forward at the award ceremony of Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The leading group climbing at theTour de Singkarak

The leading group climbing at theTour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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A large crowd gathered at the Tour de Singkarak

A large crowd gathered at the Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Riders passing at the intermediate sprint line in a tiny town, Koto Baru, at the Tour de Singkarak

Riders passing at the intermediate sprint line in a tiny town, Koto Baru, at the Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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School girls cheered for riders at the Tour de Singkarak

School girls cheered for riders at the Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The corner of the 'Tabuik' monument during the Tour de Singkarak

The corner of the 'Tabuik' monument during the Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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A lone cycling fan watches the Tour de Singkarak from his paddy field

A lone cycling fan watches the Tour de Singkarak from his paddy field
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The race leader, Michael Cuming (Rapha-Condor-JLT) at the start line of Tour de Korea

The race leader, Michael Cuming (Rapha-Condor-JLT) at the start line of Tour de Korea
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Korean idol dancers cheered up riders at Tour de Korea

Korean idol dancers cheered up riders at Tour de Korea
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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A sea side road on Sumatra island at the Tour de Singkarak

A sea side road on Sumatra island at the Tour de Singkarak
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The new world champion, Rui Costa (Portugal) was moved to tears on the podium of the worlds

The new world champion, Rui Costa (Portugal) was moved to tears on the podium of the worlds
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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After the race, an IAM Cycling rider wiped off mud on his face, Tro Bro Leon 2013

After the race, an IAM Cycling rider wiped off mud on his face, Tro Bro Leon 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Riders powered on an off-road section during Tro Bro Leon

Riders powered on an off-road section during Tro Bro Leon
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Taiji Nishitani (Aisan Racing) won the last stage of the Tour of Japan 2013

Taiji Nishitani (Aisan Racing) won the last stage of the Tour of Japan 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Winners awaiting the award ceremony with a mascot of the city at the Tour of Japan

Winners awaiting the award ceremony with a mascot of the city at the Tour of Japan
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Riders just pass the summit of a mountain at the Tour of Japan on stage 2

Riders just pass the summit of a mountain at the Tour of Japan on stage 2
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Japanese ninjas came to the start line of stage 2 at the Tour of Japan

Japanese ninjas came to the start line of stage 2 at the Tour of Japan
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The peloton passed in front of the Duomo of Firenze, in the U23 category at the world championships

The peloton passed in front of the Duomo of Firenze, in the U23 category at the world championships
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Team Omega Pharma - Quickstep in action at the team time trial of the world championships

Team Omega Pharma - Quickstep in action at the team time trial of the world championships
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The team time trial at the world championships was held under a blue sky in Firenze

The team time trial at the world championships was held under a blue sky in Firenze
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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After a hard race Jason Christie (OCBC Singapore) takes a rest at the Tour de Korea

After a hard race Jason Christie (OCBC Singapore) takes a rest at the Tour de Korea
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The grupetto riding to the top of Mont-Ventoux in the Tour de France

The grupetto riding to the top of Mont-Ventoux in the Tour de France
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Tony Martin powers to the line at the Tour de France

Tony Martin powers to the line at the Tour de France
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Robert Hunter (South Africa National Team) during a solo escape on stage 2 of the Mzansi Tour

Robert Hunter (South Africa National Team) during a solo escape on stage 2 of the Mzansi Tour
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Riders try to escape from the field at the Mzansi Tour

Riders try to escape from the field at the Mzansi Tour
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The last stage of Le Tour de Langawi

The last stage of Le Tour de Langawi
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Sohrabi Mehdi (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) heads to sign in at Le Tour de Langkawi

Sohrabi Mehdi (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) heads to sign in at Le Tour de Langkawi
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The peloton at the Tour de Langkawi in 2013

The peloton at the Tour de Langkawi in 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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A local girl watches as the peloton race by in Langkawi

A local girl watches as the peloton race by in Langkawi
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Race leader Julian Arredondo Moreno (Team NIPPO - De Rosa) at Langkawi

Race leader Julian Arredondo Moreno (Team NIPPO - De Rosa) at Langkawi
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Ivan Basso (Cannondale) leads the peloton at the Japan Cup

Ivan Basso (Cannondale) leads the peloton at the Japan Cup
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) got away to win with Josh Edmondson (Team Sky) at the Japan Cup

Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) got away to win with Josh Edmondson (Team Sky) at the Japan Cup
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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stage winner Mauro Richeze (Team NIPPO - De Rosa) with local chorus group known as the 'Mzansi youth choir'.

stage winner Mauro Richeze (Team NIPPO - De Rosa) with local chorus group known as the 'Mzansi youth choir'.
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The peloton head through the landscape at the Mzansi Tour

The peloton head through the landscape at the Mzansi Tour
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Chris Froome manages a smile before the TTT at the Tour de France

Chris Froome manages a smile before the TTT at the Tour de France
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The Tour de France visited Corsica in 2013

The Tour de France visited Corsica in 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Shinichi Fukushima, 42-years-old, a veteran Japanese rider enjoyed his last race at the Saitama Criterium. He raced aggressive in his long career

Shinichi Fukushima, 42-years-old, a veteran Japanese rider enjoyed his last race at the Saitama Criterium. He raced aggressive in his long career
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Chris Froome (Team Sky) wins the Saitama Criterium

Chris Froome (Team Sky) wins the Saitama Criterium
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Chris Froome (Team Sky) and some riders tried 'sumo wrestling' before the Saitama Criterium

Chris Froome (Team Sky) and some riders tried 'sumo wrestling' before the Saitama Criterium
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) wins the Tour of Flanders

Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) wins the Tour of Flanders
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) drops Peter Sagan in Flanders

Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) drops Peter Sagan in Flanders
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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A wild giraffe watches the race at the Mzansi Tour 2013 (South Africa)

A wild giraffe watches the race at the Mzansi Tour 2013 (South Africa)
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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The Mzansi Tour in 2013

The Mzansi Tour in 2013
(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)
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(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

Our retrospective look at the 2013 campaign continues with a fine gallery of pictures from Japanese photographer Sonoko Tanaka. Sonoko clocks up more air miles than most as she covers a wide range of races all across Asia and Europe.

This gallery includes some breathtaking shots from the Tro-Bro Léon, where Francis Mourey (FDJ) emerged victorious over the dirt roads of Brittany in April. The Tour de France and Tour of Flanders also feature prominently, as well as some stunning images from the Tour of Korea and the Tour de Singkarak in June.

The Saitama Criterium in October provided a particularly fitting stage for Sonoko’s photography, as some of the biggest stars of the Tour de France, including maillot jaune Chris Froome, arrived in Japan to bring the curtain down on the 2013 season.

Click here for the full gallery of Sonoko’s images.