[Video] Hayato Takes First at Monster Track 2026
By Paul.D and Terry.B
A few months ago, I managed to catch up with Hayato just after his big victory at Monster Track in New York. While Terry got his hands on some great video footage of our new champion, I had the chance to ask him a few questions about the experience and snap a couple of photos with my trusty but rapidly dying Olympus Mju. (RIP)
Paul - Alright! Second time at Monstertrack this year. How did it feel?
Hayato - I went into it with a way lighter mood than the first time. Back then, I really felt the pressure, but this time, I told myself I just wanted to enjoy Monstertrack and take in this crazy city that is New York.
But as the race got closer, things started to shift. I became more and more serious about it, and by the time I was on the starting line, there was no “enjoying New York” anymore; I was there to win!
Tell me about the bike you were riding this time.
I was on a Durcus One prototype. I got it about two years ago when I started working as a messenger, as a gift from a close friend. Even back then, I knew it was fast compared to the bikes I had before.
The bottom bracket is pretty high, which gives you way more clearance in corners, and that’s something I really value, especially coming from criterium racing. I ride a lot of crits, and honestly, I just see Monstertrack as one big criterium… with the additional traffic.
Your setup was interesting, especially the pedals.
Yeah, normally I run straps and cages in the street, but that would’ve meant racing in sneakers, which didn’t make sense here.
The logical step would be SPD, but I went with SPD-SL instead. I know people are always surprised to see that in the street, but for me it’s simple: “SPD-SL have way more retention than a normal SPD. If there’s one skid I have to bet my life on, I’d rather do it with the SL variant. If you want speed and full commitment, that’s the choice I’ll make. And walking… wasn’t really an issue or priority that day.
What about the bullhorns?
It might sound cheesy, but I love the movie Premium Rush. That’s actually how I discovered fixed-gear bikes, but beyond that, it simply makes sense. In a race like this, I’m not really using the drops; I mostly stay on the hoods most of the time, so bullhorns just match that position perfectly. And yeah… I also really like the look.
Any other interesting details on the build?
Even though it’s built to be fast, I’m still a bike nerd like everyone else. So there are some nice details in there like the Suntour Superbe Pro hubs laced to Stan’s rims with CX-Ray spokes. I also spend a lot of time tuning every bearing to get everything as smooth as possible. Same with the chain, I put a lot of effort into dialing it perfectly, making this rig not just a race bike but a very special one for me.
You’ve won one of the hardest alleycat out there. What’s next?
Now that I’ve climbed that mountain, I think I’ll take a break from alleycats for a bit. I want to focus more on European criteriums, like Rad Race or Züri Crit. It would be great to have a sponsor supporting that, but honestly, I’ll do it either way. I just want to see how far I can go and also help promote the Japanese criterium scene.
Any advice for winning a race like Monstertrack?
Stay calm! You can be the strongest rider out there, but if you push past your judgment in a tricky situation, it’s most likely over. You have to stay aware of your body, your surroundings, everything. That awareness is what keeps you fast and safe.
Anything you’d like to add?
I really don’t want the world to lose alleycat culture. Everything feels more controlled now, and more restricted. Races like this are unique, and I truly think they should be preserved at all costs.
🎞: Lucky Color 200
📷: Olympus Mju
📍: Tokyo
