The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, originally awarded to Victoriaville in Canada, will move location and now take place in Niseko on the Northern Hokkaido island in Japan.
Niseko Classic is already part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series since 2016 and have gained a lot of experience organising on a flattish 15km time trial course and a challenging 150km granfondo course for the younger categories while the older age groups will battle for the coveted rainbow jersey on a shorter and easier 80km course.
The dates for these World Championships have been set for 26-30 August 2026 with the traditional program including a time trial on Thursday, team relay on Friday and the granfondo on Sunday.
Located just a 1.5-hour flight from Tokyo, Niseko is a renowned ski resort with ample hotel accommodations, making it an ideal host for this global cycling event.
This year’s UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are happening in Aalborg, Denmark, with Lorne, Australia taking the reins in 2025.
