Atsushi Oka (岡 篤志, Oka Atsushi, born 3 September 1995) is a Japanese professional cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team JCL Team Ukyo.

Atsushi Oka
Oka competing in the under–23 men's time trial at the 2017 UCI Road World Championships
Personal information
Born (1995-09-03) September 3, 1995 (age 29)
Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)[1]
Weight57 kg (126 lb; 9.0 st)[1]
Team information
Current teamJCL Team Ukyo
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider type
Amateur teams
2013C Project
2013Cannondale–Champion System
2014–2015EQA
Professional teams
2017–2019Utsunomiya Blitzen[3]
2020–2021Nippo–Delko–One Provence[4][5]
2021–2022Nippo–Provence–PTS Conti
2023–JCL Team Ukyo

Career

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After three years at Japanese UCI Continental team Utsunomiya Blitzen, Oka signed with French UCI ProTeam Nippo–Delko–One Provence in 2020, joining compatriots Fumiyuki Beppu, Masahiro Ishigami, and Hideto Nakane.[2] Oka made his debut for the team at the 2020 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.[6]

At the end of the 2020 season, it was reported that Oka was one of several riders who filed complaints to the UCI about team manager Philippe Lannes trying to force them out of the team midway through their contracts and evict them out of the team house, amidst controversies over "missing payments, contracts not being honored, and threatening behavior" towards the riders' futures on the team. Speculation arose that Lannes' actions, especially towards Oka and Ishigami, partially stemmed from his frustrations over Japanese sponsor Nippo leaving the team, further contributing to the team's financial troubles; however, both riders remained registered with team for the 2021 season.[7]

On 28 April 2021, Oka received a four-month suspension from the UCI after an anti-doping control test came back positive for acetazolamide, a drug banned by WADA that is often used to treat altitude sickness. Given the retroactive suspension from the date of the positive on 13 December 2020, Oka was eligible to race again on 24 May 2021.[8]

On 29 June, Oka signed with Nippo–Provence–PTS Conti, joining Delko teammate Masahiro Ishigami, who had signed a month earlier.[9]

Personal life

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Oka's older brother Yasumasa is also a professional cyclist.[3]

Major results

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2013
1st   Time trial, National Junior Road Championships
2nd Road race, National Junior Road Championships
2014
5th Time trial, National Road Championships
2015
7th Time trial, National Road Championships
2016
2nd Time trial, National Under–23 Road Championships
2017
4th Time trial, National Road Championships
6th Overall Tour de Tochigi
2018
4th Oita Urban Classic
9th Overall Tour de Tochigi
10th Tour de Okinawa
2019
1st Prologue Tour of Japan
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
2nd Overall Tour de Kumano
4th Overall Tour de Tochigi
2021
National Road Championships
4th Time trial
5th Road race
2022
1st Stage 3 Tour of Japan
4th Umag Trophy
2023
1st   Overall Tour de Kumano
National Road Championships
2nd Road race
4th Time trial
3rd Overall Tour of Japan
1st Stage 5
2024
1st   Overall Tour de Kumano
1st   Points classification
1st   Active Rider classification, AlUla Tour

References

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  1. ^ a b "ATSUSHI OKA - Team NIPPO DELKO One Provence". Nippo–Delko–One Provence. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Atsushi Oka, 2ème recrue japonaise" [Atsushi Oka, 2nd Japanese recruit] (in French). Delko–Marseille Provence. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Atsushi Oka". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ "NIPPO DELKO ONE PROVENCE". UCI. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Les coureurs du Team NIPPO DELKO One Provence" [The riders of Team NIPPO DELKO One Provence] (in French). Delko–Marseille Provence. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  6. ^ "1ère étape de la Tropicale Amissa Bongo – 3ème place pour Biniam Girmay Hailu" [1st stage of the Tropical Amissa Bongo - 3rd place for Biniam Girmay Hailu] (in French). Nippo–Delko–One Provence. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  7. ^ Benson, Daniel (5 November 2020). "UCI initiates bank guarantee proceedings against Nippo Delko One Provence after riders complain". CyclingNews. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Oka banned for doping positive as Delko in more financial trouble". CyclingNews. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  9. ^ Gauthier, Nicolas (2 July 2021). "Transfert - Atsushi Oka rejoint le Team NIPPO-Provence-PTS Conti" [Transfer - Atsushi Oka joins Team NIPPO-Provence-PTS Conti]. Cyclism'Actu (in French). Retrieved 7 July 2021.
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