Hideto Nakane extends with team

EF Education-NIPPO is proud to announce the renewal of Hideto Nakane. With 10 seasons of professional racing experience, the 31-year-old continues to grow each season and is looking ahead to 2022.

As a rider from Japan who has raced on five continents, is learning English, and loves to ride in Italy, Nakane appreciates the team’s international culture. “I wanted to renew my contract with the team because there are so many great riders and staff from so many countries,” he said. “It is a global team, which means I can learn so much here and that interests me.”

Looking back on 2021, Nakane said he has grown significantly in his first season racing in the WorldTour. “I’ve improved how I train, how I recover, how I race, and my English. This will all help for an even stronger 2022.” Indeed, he wrapped up this past season on a high note, reaching the podium in both the Japanese National Championship Road Race and Time Trial, his best ever result in the two disciplines.

“Hideto has been a wonderful presence on this team. He’s not only someone we love racing with, but he’s got a great sense of humor and adds a lot of fun to this group,” said team CEO Jonathan Vaughters. “Our team is truly global. It’s one of the things I enjoy most about our riders and staff, and having Nakane represent Japanese cycling is important; we want to see more Japanese riders in the WorldTour and help develop talent outside pro cycling’s traditional hotbeds.”

Nakane has been an important member of our squad this season and helped teammate Hugh Carthy during the Vuelta a Burgos, in which Carthy won the final stage. “I was so happy for Hugh to win the final stage in Burgos and to have been part of it,” Nakane said. “That was my proudest moment of the season.”

For 2022, Nakane aims to carry on learning so that he can continue to support his teammates. “I am proud to race alongside such strong teammates and I want to work hard for them.”

Nakane has found a home with the team and sees a promising future. “I like how EF operates. I know I can continue to grow as a cyclist with this team, so that’s why I would like to work hard again with EF.”