Takashi Miyazawa

(born 27 February 1978 in Nagano City) is a Japanese former professional racing cyclist, who competed as a professional between 2003 and 2014.

Career Miyazawa had a varied early career, riding cyclocross at first, then participating on various teams in Japan, Italy, and France, and even riding independently at times. He once quit road cycling to participate in the keirin school. Finally settling on road cycling with Bridgestone Anchor in 2005, Miyazawa quickly established himself as one of Japan's top sprinters, reaching the podium not only in Japan, but in Asia and Europe as well. He was Asian champion in 2007 and represented Japan in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He was hired by the UCI Professional Continental team Amica Chips-Knauf in 2009 but returned to his Japanese team when Amica Chips floundered due to financial difficulties. Joining Team Nippo in 2010, he won the Japanese national championship that year. On 28 October 2010, it was announced that Miyazawa had signed to ride with the new Italian Pro Continental team, , for the 2011 season. On 21 October 2011, it was announced that Miyazawa signed a one-year contract with UCI World Tour team for the 2012 season. After his retirement, he assumed the post of manager of the Lemonade Bellmare cycling team.

Major results

2006 1st Tour de Okinawa 1st Stage 4 Tour of Siam 1st Stage 2 Tour de Hokkaido 5th Flèche Hesbignonne 7th Japan Cup 2007 1st Road race, Asian Road Championships 1st Tour de Okinawa 1st Stage 1 Tour of Japan 2nd Ronde van Overijssel 2nd Circuito de Getxo 3rd Road race, National Road Championships 6th Overall Vuelta Ciclista a León 6th Tro-Bro Léon 8th Grand Prix de Rennes 9th Châteauroux Classic 10th Japan Cup 2008

1st Points classification 3rd Road race, Asian Road Championships 3rd Overall Tour de Taiwan 6th Grand Prix de Rennes 2009

1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 5 2nd Road race, National Road Championships 4th Circuito de Getxo 10th Châteauroux Classic 2010

1st Kumamoto International Road Race 1st Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista a León

2nd Road race, Asian Road Championships 2nd Overall Tour de Kumano 1st Prologue 4th Overall Tour de Taiwan 1st Stages 3 & 4 6th Japan Cup 7th Overall Tour de Okinawa 2011 1st Izegem Koerse 5th Paris–Brussels 6th Road race, Asian Road Championships 6th Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie 2012 5th Overall Tour de Picardie 2013 5th Grand Prix de Denain 2014 4th Road race, Asian Road Championships 5th GP Izola 7th Road race, Asian Games

Personal life In 2001, Miyazawa donated half his liver to his mother, who was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.