Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Japanese National Champion Mayuko Hagiwara had her European breakthrough season in 2015, with three wins and several podium places in big international events. Hagiwara won her 11th national title, a stage in the Tour de Bretagne and her biggest win to date: a stage in the Giro Rosa. She also finished on the podium in the GP Plumelec and Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. A nasty crash in the La Madrid Challenge, in which she broke her collarbone, forced “Hagi” to withdrawn from the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia, and to end her season prematurely to fully recover from her injury back in Japan.
Now three months after breaking her collarbone Hagiwara is fully recovered and eager to come back stronger in 2016 in which will be her fourth season with the Wiggle Honda team.
“This year was a great experience. The win in the sixth stage of the Giro Rosa was very special, as it was my first win in Europe, and because I am the first Japanese athlete to do that. That win was just unbelievable. So many people were surprised and proud of me, especially in Japan, which means a lot.”
In June Hagiwara made Japanese history in winning her eleventh (6x Time Trial, 5x Road Race) national title, which is something she is very proud of.
“I am a professional cyclist racing in Europe. I am the only Japanese professional racing in a top UCI women’s team, so I must win in Japan! It’s my job to represent Japan and the national championships jersey on an international level to the other Japanese cyclists and people. It also means I have to become stronger and stronger by the year to show myself in these international races.”
Hagiwara’s incredible season was brought to a cruel and abrupt end, as suffered a fractured collarbone in a crash during the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta on the streets of the Spanish capital, but has been her most successful to date.
“It was a really stupid crash. I felt really sorry for my team, staff and my national coach because I had to miss the World Championships. It was hard to miss this race because I was really looking forward to it, as the Worlds in 2016 will be in Doha [Qatar]. That’s not a race that suits me, but I will try every year if I have a chance to race there. Now my collarbone is healing well after my surgery in Japan; I started my training on the road, and am looking forward to my comeback in a race.”
However, the 2015 season wasn’t only the best season for Hagiwara, but it was also the best yet for Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling, which is due in no small part to the hard work of the quietly spoken Japanese Champion. The team won 35 UCI races including four World Cups and five national titles, and was the most winning team in the entire season.
“I think the team was really well balanced. The mood was good and it is really one team. Not just the athletes but also the staff. It’s a very special feeling. One for all, all for one.”
Olympic Season
2016 is going to be an important season for a lot of athletes, with the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August. Hagiwara is one of the athletes targeting a good result, but the Olympic Games are not the only races she wants to perform well.
“Of course one of my goals is the Olympic Games in Rio. I think it will be very important for Japan that I will go. It will be a hard and difficult race but I am happy that the course is not flat and windy. Also the Giro Rosa will be one of my goals, I really want to ride stronger than I did this year. I know I won a stage but I think this team is capable of winning the overall ranking as we have a few athletes who are able to do so. I really want to work hard for it. I also would like to work hard for more victories of the team especially in the hilly races.”
Hagiwara recently has renewed her contract with Wiggle Honda, and will spend a fourth straight year as part of the black and orange squad. The Japanese Champion has been part of the team since its inception in 2013, and is one of the most popular riders with her teammates and staff as she is a tireless worker for others.
“I really appreciate, and I’m really excited, that I could continue with Wiggle Honda in 2016,” Hagiwara said. “For me it will be the fourth year with this team; I have been on this team from the first year of the team, and that is so special. I really appreciate that I could have learned a lot and gained a lot of experience over the past three years. I knew nothing about racing in Europe until three years ago.”
Hagiwara continues: “I have learned a lot from Gio [Bronzini]. She is an amazing athlete and also a great person. Her family is also very nice. She is a smart rider with lots of experience who won lots of races and that’s why she is a strong and good mentor for me. Gio is one of the reasons I could grow up and be the athlete I am today! She is also the big force behind all the successes this year.
“I just love this team, they have given me many chances and I appreciate that I can also work with them in 2016,” she added. “Next year, more big riders [Johansson, Garner, Pieters] will come. I am looking forward to work with them, and I will keep trying to work hard and find my position in the team. I think the team will have more success next year in all different kinds of races.”
