2026 Tour de Whatcom - Register NOW!
United States >> 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Series >> Hiromi Kaneko and Kakeru Omae Fastest at the 2026 UCI Tour de Fukushima
 
Add to My Favourites
 
Add to My Favourites

Hiromi Kaneko and Kakeru Omae Fastest at the 2026 UCI Tour de Fukushima

Japan’s Tour de Fukushima, one of the newest and fastest-growing events in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, delivered a spectacular weekend of racing as riders sharpen their form ahead of the upcoming World Championships on home soil. While Slovenia celebrated tradition last weekend, Fukushima showcased the energy of a rising event quickly earning global attention.

Kaneko Hiromi and Kakeru Omae Fastest at the 2026 UCI Tour de Fukushima

The action opened on Saturday with a 13 km coastal time trial in Soma. Flat, exposed, and running parallel to the Pacific shoreline, the course demanded pure power and aerodynamic discipline as riders battled crosswinds and long, uninterrupted straights.
 
Sunday’s road races shifted to Naraha for a demanding day across the region’s varied terrain. The 140 km Granfondo began with a 40 km coastal run before turning inland toward the highlands. The decisive moment came after 84 km as the race crested the highest point at 617 metres. The climb rolled steadily before kicking up sharply in the final 5 km, thinning the field and setting up the selection that would define the finale. From there, the course delivered relentless undulations before dropping back toward the coast for a fast, tactical run-in to the finish. The 80 km Mediofondo, using the latter part of the long route, served as the qualifying distance for all women and men aged 50 and over.
 
The men’s Granfondo produced one of the tightest finishes of the season. Kakeru Omae claimed victory in 3:19:06, edging out Masato Taki and Kyuto Yoshida, with all three riders sharing the same finishing time. A further seven riders crossed the line just one second later, underlining the intensity of the final kilometres and the depth of the front group.
 
The men’s Granfondo produced one of the tightest finishes of the season
 
In the women’s Mediofondo, Hiromi Kaneko delivered a commanding performance, stopping the clock in 2:05:00 to take the fastest women’s time of the day. She was pushed closely by Etsuko Tezuka, just three seconds back, while Oishi Yumiko completed the overall podium with a strong 2:07:32. The main Mediofondo women’s field produced a tight cluster of times behind them, with Li Si, Hayashi Yuki, Suzuki Yukako and Endo Anna all finishing within ten seconds of each other.
 
With its blend of coastal exposure, highland climbing, and fast finishing terrain, the Tour de Fukushima once again proved why it is rapidly becoming a key target for riders preparing for the World Championships. The racing was fierce, the times were sharp, and the performances across both men’s and women’s fields confirmed the event’s growing status as one of the most exciting new fixtures in the World Series calen
dar.
 
Those finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category qualified for worlds championships taking place in Niseko, Japan, this 26-30 August 2026.
 
the Tour de Fukushima once again proved why it is rapidly becoming a key target for riders preparing for the World Championships
 
2026 Tour de Fukushima 140km Gran Fondo Top 10 Men
 
1. Kakeru Omae (No. 2) — 3:19:06 — +0:00
2. Masato Taki (No. 68) — 3:19:06 — +0:00
3. Kyuto Yoshida (No. 140) — 3:19:06 — +0:00
4. Raiku Iwama (No. 146) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
5. Yuki Kimura (No. 4) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
6. Kowa Matsushima (No. 97) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
7. Yasumasa Oka (No. 153) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
8. Takuya Kimura (No. 5) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
9. Sho Shimada (No. 51) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
10. Takuya Yoshioka (No. 143) — 3:19:07 — +0:01
 
2026 Tour de Fukushima 80km Medio Fondo Top 10 Women
 
1. Kaneko Hiromi (No. 2301) — 2:05:00
2. Tezuka Etsuko (No. 2208) — 2:05:03
3. Yumiko Oishi (No. 2502) — 2:07:32
4. Li Si (No. 2031) — 2:11:16
5. Hayashi Yuki (No. 2004) — 2:11:18
6. Suzuki Yukako (No. 2001) — 2:11:23
7. Endo Anna (No. 2019) — 2:11:26
8. Shimano Mami (No. 2101) — 2:11:38
9. Morihiro Mana (No. 2202) — 2:11:51
10. Ichihara Tomona (No. 2015) — 2:12:40
UCI Gran Fondo World Series News