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Provisional Starlist Released for 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, Japan

The UCI has released the provisional start list for the 2026 Gran Fondo and Time Trial World Championships, confirming all registrations received up to 1 August. Riders from more than 50 nations will travel to Niseko, Japan, for what is shaping up to be one of the most internationally diverse editions yet.

Provisional Starlist Released for 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, Japan

The list includes several defending champions from the 2025 World Championships, adding extra anticipation to this year’s event.

Time Trial: Former World Champions Return to Defend Their Titles

The women’s time trial categories feature a mix of rising talent and experienced riders, including defending 2025 champions in both the Granfondo/Mediofondo and time trial disciplines. Riders such as Gwenaelle Legendre (France) and Suzuki Yukako (Japan) return after standout performances last season, aiming to retain their rainbow jerseys.

In the men’s time trial, several previous medalists appear again, including strong European representation from France, Poland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, alongside deep fields from Japan, which continues to dominate participation numbers.

The upper age groups — 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, and beyond — include multiple former age-category champions who have consistently performed at world level, demonstrating the longevity and competitiveness of Gran Fondo racing.

Gran Fondo Women: Former Winners Add Firepower to the Field

The women’s Granfondo 19–34 category is one of the most globally diverse, with riders from France, Australia, China, South Africa, Mexico, Portugal, Germany, Canada, Japan, and the USA. Several riders who placed highly in 2025 return, including Legendre, who is both a TT and Granfondo force.

The 35–39 and 40–44 categories include past podium finishers from Italy, Belarus, Lithuania, South Korea, Canada, and Costa Rica, while the 45–49 group features returning champions such as Junko Hattori (Japan) and Claire Nédélec (France), both of whom were major contenders last year.

Mediofondo categories also include former winners, particularly in the 55–59 and 60–64 brackets, where riders like Medina Peña Cilda Esperanza (Colombia) and Diane Otley-Doe (Australia) have previously claimed world titles.

Gran Fondo Men: Priority Riders and Former Champions Headline the Start List

The men’s Granfondo 19–34 category includes several priority riders (PRIO) — typically former champions, top-10 finishers, or national qualifiers with elite status. Among them are riders from Japan, Italy, Poland, France, Belarus, Cyprus, and China.

Past champions from older categories also return, including multiple former winners in the 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, and 60–64 groups. Riders such as Thomas John (France), Rosok Bard (Norway), and Nelson Alan (Australia) have all previously stood on the podium and will be watched closely again this year.

The upper age brackets — 70–74, 75–79, and 80–84 — include several legendary repeat competitors who have collected multiple world titles over the years, underscoring the depth of experience in the Gran Fondo community.

A Championship Defined by Global Reach and Returning Champions

With defending champions across multiple categories and riders from every continent, the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships promise a compelling mix of new talent and established stars.

Niseko will host:

Elite amateurs
Returning world champions
National qualifiers
Age-group legends
All competing for the coveted rainbow jersey.

As final entries close and the event approaches, anticipation continues to build for one of the most competitive and globally diverse Gran Fondo World Championships to date.

UCI Gran Fondo World Series News