Keirin racing is a Japanese phenomenon almost as old as modern sporting itself. An over-the-top combination of athleticism, gambling, glory-seeking, and tradition, Keirin has provided Japanese cyclists a place to strategically compete on their bikes for more than half a century. It’s a mega-budget sport, grossing funds in excess of $10 billion dollars in ticket sales alone, and that’s before the federally administrated gambling is taken into account.
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