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Gallery: Japanese riders set up Thailand training camp

Arashiro and Miyazawa train in Thoeng

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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.