Gallery: Japanese riders set up Thailand training camp | Cyclingnews

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Arashiro Yukiya is massaged by a local masseuse — Arashiro Yukiya is massaged by a local masseuse (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Professional, amateur and young riders, all enjoy training in Thailand — Professional, amateur and young riders, all enjoy training in Thailand (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) cheers on a young rider — Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) cheers on a young rider (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Sometimes, riders meet a gravel road — Sometimes, riders meet a gravel road (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya — Arashiro Yukiya (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders training in the magnificent Thai countryside — Riders training in the magnificent Thai countryside (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Bananas for feeding — Bananas for feeding (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) decides today's training course — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) decides today's training course (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) training on the cycle trainer in morning — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) training on the cycle trainer in morning (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) climbing — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) climbing (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Ayashiro Yukiya — Ayashiro Yukiya (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya eats a Chinese steamed bun — Arashiro Yukiya eats a Chinese steamed bun (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders enjoying a Thai barbecue in dinner — Riders enjoying a Thai barbecue in dinner (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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After the training the riders drink soya milk at stalls — After the training the riders drink soya milk at stalls (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) sprint training — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) sprint training (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Passing the mountain road — Passing the mountain road (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders have lunch at a Chinese restrant — Riders have lunch at a Chinese restrant (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders have lunch at a Chinese restrant — Riders have lunch at a Chinese restrant (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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The bike and Arashiro Yukiya drying off together — The bike and Arashiro Yukiya drying off together (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Ayashiro Yukiya (Europcar) washing his bike after the training — Ayashiro Yukiya (Europcar) washing his bike after the training (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders pass the under construction road — Riders pass the under construction road (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya (Europe car) eats breakfast — Arashiro Yukiya (Europe car) eats breakfast (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) eats breakfast — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) eats breakfast (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) can't wait to start training — Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) can't wait to start training (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo Bank) looks over a young rider's knee — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo Bank) looks over a young rider's knee (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Having a break at the grocery store — Having a break at the grocery store (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Passing a crowded town — Passing a crowded town (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders eat breakfast in a small restaurant in Thoeng — Riders eat breakfast in a small restaurant in Thoeng (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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A dog looks at the Japanese riders — A dog looks at the Japanese riders (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Riders take a rest in a small grocery store — Riders take a rest in a small grocery store (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) is drinking water in small grocery — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) is drinking water in small grocery (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya (Europe car) enjoys hard training — Arashiro Yukiya (Europe car) enjoys hard training (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) loves shaved ice — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) loves shaved ice (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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After the training and the riders enjoy shaved ice — After the training and the riders enjoy shaved ice (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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(Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Traditional dish, chicken with rice for rider's lunch — Traditional dish, chicken with rice for rider's lunch (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) cooling off — Miyazawa Takashi (Saxo bank) cooling off (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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A cat in Thailand — A cat in Thailand (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

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Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) chooses the dish for breakfast in local restaurant — Arashiro Yukiya (Europcar) chooses the dish for breakfast in local restaurant (Image credit: Sonoko Tanaka)

Two of Japan's most talented professional riders based themselves in Thoeng, Chiang Rai, Thailand, at the tail-end of 2011 as they prepared for the season. Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar) and Saxo Bank's newest recruit Takashi Miyazawa used the warm weather to build up their training miles, with Takashi Miyazawa using them to good effect at the recent Tour Down Under.

Here, Japanese photographer Sonoko Tanaka showcases her images from the camp - from local cuisine, sprint training and life of an international pro rider on the road.