Kiaki Miura, who partnered with Kazuhei Kimura, a visually impaired athlete from Rakuten Socio Business, participated in the tandem cycling event at the Paris Paralympics.He is currently living a strict dormitory life for ten months as one of the candidates to enter the Japan Institute of Keirin.I wonder what kind of daily life the candidates aiming to become professional bicycle racers lead, and what kind of future they imagine.

To help people understand more about bicycle racing, “I Want to Become a Player Who Moves People”

When the candidates finish their daily tasks and have a little free time in the late afternoon.After finishing the shooting around the training center, the interview team decided to talk to Kiaki Miura, a candidate who is living in the dormitory aiming to become a professional kririn cyclist.Candidate Miura participated in the 2024 Paris Paralympics as the pilot for  Kazuhei Kimura, who has a visual impairment, in the tandem cycling track event.

——Thank you for taking the time while you’re tired.Are you going back to your room after this?

“That’s right. I have finished my schoolwork, so I will return to the dormitory and eat, as well as take a bath.”

——What does your daily schedule look like?

“A day in the life of a candidate is,

6:30	Wake up
6:45	Roll Call
6:50	Refinement*
7:10	Cleaning
7:30	Breakfast

*All candidates gather outside to do exercises

Here is the flow until the start of the assignment. After that,

9:00	Alignment
9:05	1st Period
9:55	2nd Period
10:45	3rd Period
11:25	Lunch
12:05	Homework Preparation Time
12:50	Alignment
12:55	4th Period
13:45	5th Period
14:35	6th Period
15:25	7th period
16:15	8th Period
17:00	Bathing(Until 19:00)
17:45	Dinner(until 18:45)
19:45	Free Time
21:00	Roll Call
22:00	Lights Out

That’s how it will be spent.The morning classes vary from day to day, sometimes having three periods, sometimes four, and today we had three periods.

——Indeed, it’s about leading a regular life, isn’t it?　What is today’s homework content?

“I had a training session using a bicycle at the bank in the morning.I followed and ran behind the leading motorcycle.This is a training to increase speed behind a bike with low air resistance.In the afternoon, we did weight training in the gym, followed by roller training, and finally conducted VTR instruction in the audio-visual room.”

——What is VTR instruction?

“We conduct races among candidates as part of competitive training, and during this, we watch the recorded footage and receive guidance on things like ‘what would have been better to do in this situation’, and points of violation or reflection.”

——First of all, why did you enter the institute of KEIRIN?

“I started cycling competitively since high school, but the main reason for entering the training institute was that I was inspired by the performance of Yuta Wakimoto, who performed well in the 2019 KEIRIN Grand Prix.Anyway, the struggle (*1) was long, and I wanted to run the same way in the Grand Prix.Also, I am originally from Iwate Prefecture, and I was inspired by the achievements of Toshiki Fujine, a cyclist from the same hometown who has become a professional track cyclist.During my third year of high school, I had the opportunity to practice with them, and I truly admire them as they are really cool players.

(*1) “struggle” is a term used in keirin, meaning “to sprint with all one’s might”.

——It’s been over half a year since you joined, how is life at the training center?

“It feels like it’s gone by in the blink of an eye, but there are moments when it suddenly feels long. I’m sure everyone probably wants to graduate early (laughs).”

——So it’s not “painful,” but “long,” huh? (laughs)

“The need to confront training menus on tough days or when you’re not feeling up to par might be considered tough.”

——What about the stress in daily life, such as smartphones being prohibited?

“Living in a dormitory, I don’t feel much stress about not being able to do what I like freely, or not being able to use my smartphone in my daily life. Rather, in an environment where there are many competing candidates, you may feel much more stress when your time is worse compared to others, or when you lose a race you were trying to win.”

——Do trainees consider each other’s race rankings?

“In my case, rather than being conscious about the order of arrival, I have a strong feeling about how well I was able to perform training using my legs.I think people who are particular about their placement are extremely particular, and people who see it as practice for the race development they want to do don’t seem to be so particular. So, I believe everyone has a different sense of purpose.”

——I believe each candidate has different strengths and weaknesses.Is there also individual training?

“While it’s not that there is no individual guidance, what you learn at the training center is ultimately general knowledge, and individual issues must be resolved on your own while on the move.The pedaling style of each bicycle cyclist is different, so there is no correct answer. Try imitating cyclists who are similar to yourself, and try what my master has told me, while finding the correct answer for myself.”

——Eh? Is there a master-disciple relationship among bicycle racers!?

“A master is a senior who teaches various things about bicycle racing and consults when in trouble.It’s not that you absolutely have to be there, but most of the candidates, for example, often have senior racers who have established a mentor-student relationship triggered by something like being from the same hometown.”

——Do you have any training menus that you struggle with?

“It’s a 250m bank that meets international competition standards.The other candidates around me often say, ‘You must be used to running’, but perhaps because I’m still used to the sensation of tandem cycling(*2) , when I run alone, I find it hard to get into the groove…The use of the brain and muscles, as well as the balance of the body, are significantly different in tandem cycling. I’m struggling to improve my time due to not being able to use them effectively. I’m thinking of making improvements.”

(*2)  Candidate Miura flourished as a cyclist of the tandem sprint (a sprint event on a tandem cycling) during his college days.The Paralympics also stipulate a 250m bank as a standard.

Tandem cycling is a bicycle competition where a pair consists of an able-bodied athlete (pilot) in the front seat and a visually impaired athlete (stoker) in the rear seat.Candidate Miura served as a pilot.

——You participated in the Paralympics as a pilot, riding in front of Kazuhei Kimura in tandem cycling.How did you perceive balancing candidate life?

“While it is a given to work hard in the training institute, my desire to give my all for the global competition was extremely strong, so I think I was leaning more towards tandem cycling. I’m not sure what will happen in the future, but if I were to be a pilot for tandem cycling again in four years, I should have graduated from the training school and become a professional bicycle racer.I fully understand that participating in international competitions is an honor, but ordinary efforts alone won’t yield good results, and if I don’t perform in my main profession, which is racing, it will affect my livelihood. So, I believe I have to consider how I spend my time.”

—What are the charms of both tandem cycling and track racing for candidate Miura, who has experience in both?

“The appeal of the tandem cycling event is that a fast time can be achieved when the strength of two people is combined. I believe that for the viewers, the sense of speed and the interaction between two people are parts that can make them feel the fun.The charm of Keirin lies in the unpredictable race development where you don’t know who will win until the very end.I believe the orthodox view is to anticipate who will arrive at the chaotic spot right before the goal, but personally, I think the leaders who have already run this far are on the run!I like to look at it in that kind of way. By about the last lap, I think it’s fun to watch nervously to see where the leading athlete is positioned and whether he can escape to the goal from here, or whether he will be ‘MAKURI’ in the latter half of the remaining lap.”

（*3）The term ‘MAKURI’ is a Keirin term meaning “to pass from behind in one fell swoop.

——What are the challenges you would like to overcome to advance in your professional journey?

“It’s about how to use my body against a steel frame.Until I entered the training institute, I had been involved in bicycle racing with carbon frames, so I’m still not at all accustomed to the steel frames used by professional bicycle racers.The way the body uses carbon and iron differs, and it feels like iron is more difficult to operate.Since I have significantly less experience riding on iron frames compared to the other candidates, I have been training diligently for these past 10 months, considering this time as an opportunity to get used to it.The rest is certainly about improving technology.The way to make a bicycle move forward faster greatly depends on minor techniques, such as how you pedal. I am always running while thinking about what I should do to become a ‘strong’ cyclist, not just a ‘fast’ one.”

——What are your goals after graduation?

“I want to participate in the Young Grand Prix (*4) and win. As a cyclist, my goal is to become a player who can inspire others, just as I was moved by bike racing and aspired to become a professional.It is said that the number of people riding bicycles is increasing in Japan, but cycling as a whole is still a minor sport, and the difference in the number of competitors is obvious compared to advanced cycling nations. I believe that not only Keirin, but also if cycling becomes a more mainstream sport, the number of young people aiming to become professionals will increase, and it will become even more exciting.”

(*4) The Young Grand Prix is a race targeting male athletes who debuted within two years from the year of the event.The number of participants who can join is only nine.The basic eligibility requirements include S-class membership and a minimum of 36 races, making it mandatory to have particularly good results among young players.

——Even for those who are unfamiliar with Keirin or bicycle racing, it’s important to pique their interest by saying, “There are interesting players”.

By doing so, the number of people visiting the velodrome increases, which also leads to the further development of regional revitalization and sports culture.Thank you very much for sparing your precious time after training today.I’m rooting for you!

“Thank you very much as well!”

For those who want to know more about the “Japan Institute of Keirin” where the candidates live, click on this article.

PHOTO: Teppei Hori
TEXT: Keisuke Honda
EDIT: Shiori Saeki (IN FOCUS)