11-07-2024 | Frank Jansen

2026 Gran Fondo Worlds move from Canada to Japan

After much speculation, it is now confirmed: the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship will not be held in Canada as originally planned. Instead, Japan will be the host country. The championship is scheduled to take place from August 26 to 30, 2026.

No Surprise

It had been known for some time that the organization of a UCI World Cup Gran Fondo in Canada was under pressure due to difficulties in securing the necessary permits. Recent rumors suggested that the World Cup might be held in Europe in 2026, which would have been welcomed by European qualifying events concerned about dwindling interest over the next two years. With the 2025 World Cup set to take place in Perth, and the 2026 edition also requiring long-distance travel, a European location seemed plausible. However, those rumors have been dispelled: the Niseko Classic in Japan will host the World Cup, as confirmed by the UCI on its website. Consequently, the travel distance for Europeans has increased rather than decreased.

Niseko Classic

Although relatively unknown in Europe, the Niseko Classic has been a mainstay on the UCI calendar for years. This gran fondo takes place on the northern island of Hokkaido. The course spans 150 km and features almost 2,500 meters of elevation. The starting town of Niseko is approximately two hours from Sapporo. The long route includes three major climbs, with the middle one being the longest at 15 km. There is also a medio fondo of 80 km with 1,200 meters of elevation, though it is expected that this route may be slightly extended before the Worlds.

Time Trial

It goes without saying that there will also be competition for the world time trial titles in Japan. Although the organization's website has yet to provide details, previous years featured a 15 km course with approximately 100 meters of elevation, making it relatively flat.

Mark your calendars for August 26-30, 2026. This gives you plenty of time to train and, of course, save up! ;)

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