Niseko hosts 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship

The 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship has commenced in Niseko, Japan, marking the first time the event is being held on the Asian continent. The competition features approximately 1,450 cyclists representing 64 different nations.

The event schedule begins with an individual time trial over a 15 km course, followed by a mixed team relay on a 1.9 km circuit. The championship concludes on Sunday with the Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo road races held on mountainous terrain in Hokkaido. Participants qualified for the event by placing within the top 25% of their respective age categories during the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.