FAQ

To qualify, riders must finish within the top 25% of your age group at a UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifying event.

For further details, please visit:

https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/calendar/

This event will not be held in 2026.

For information on each qualifying event, please refer to the link below:

https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/calendar/

Yes. In Japan, "the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Fukushima – Tour de Fukushima" will be held in Fukushima Prefecture in June 2026.

For more information, please visit:

https://fukushima-cycle-series.jp/

Qualified riders will receive an invitation directly from UCI by email.
Please follow the instructions provided in the invitation email to complete your entry.

If you do not receive the invitation email, please contact:
[email protected] or the qualifing event you joined.

Please contact your national cycling federation to obtain the required license and UCI ID necessary for participation in the event.

The entry period is scheduled to run from late January to July 31 (Friday).

The entry fees are as follows:

Time Trial: JPY 18,500 (tax included)

Team Relay: JPY 31,000 (tax included) per team

Road Race: JPY 31,000 (tax included)

After your entry fee payment is successfully completed, a confirmation email will be sent to you automatically.

From this confirmation email, you can:

・Check your entry status
・Download your receipt

Our event office will check the status on your behalf.
Please contact us using one of the options below:

- Website inquiry form: https://nisekoclassic.com/contact

- Event Office email: [email protected]

Before contacting us, please ensure that the following points have been checked and that your email receiving environment is properly set up:

①Check your spam/junk folder
②Add the following domains to your safe sender list: (hokkaidoevents.com / roomboss.net)
③Please use a free email service such as Gmail or Yahoo Mail

*Please note that emails sent to mobile carrier email addresses may be blocked or filtered as spam.

For Road Race participants, the race distance (Gran Fondo or Medio Fondo) is determined by age category and gender, and therefore cannot be changed.

Yes. Please contact the event office, and we will assist you with making the necessary corrections.

Website contact page: https://nisekoclassic.com/contact
Contact: [email protected]

Yes. Winners of the Time Trial and Road Race at the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, held in October 2025 in Lorne, Australia, are eligible to compete in both the Time Trial and Road Race at the first UCI Gran Fondo World Championships held after their title win, which will be the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko.

Contact: [email protected]

For the registration, riders must hold a valid racing license issued by their national cycling federation.
(One-day licenses are not accepted.)

Riders must also have a UCI ID.

For detailed information regarding license requirements, please contact your national cycling federation.

Yes, you will need to obtain a UCI ID to race. Riders who do not hold a valid UCI licence on race day will not be permitted to compete. 
The Event Organisers will validate all participant UCI IDs closer to event week.

For more details, please contact your national cycling federation.

Nationals of countries that have a visa exemption agreement with Japan generally do not require a visa for short-term stays of up to 90 days.

Nationals of other countries must obtain a visa in advance.

The event organizer can issue participation certificates or invitation letters to support visa applications, if required.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, all participants are strongly advised to confirm visa requirements with the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country.

Please refer to the announcement below from the Japan Cycling Federation (JCF).
Further details will be announced once they are finalized.

Japan Cyling Federation (JCF)
"License requirements for participation in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships"

We have received many inquiries regarding license requirements for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, which will be held in Niseko, Hokkaido, in 2026.

For certain international events held in Japan that are organized, co-organized, managed, or officially sanctioned by the JCF, license control may be conducted using a domestic (JCF) license.

Accordingly, as was the case for the 2025 Niseko Classic, once a race management agreement has been concluded between the organizer and the JCF, participation using a domestic JCF license only (temporary licenses not accepted) will be permitted.

If participation using a domestic license only is approved, details regarding the method of assigning a UCI ID will be discussed with the organizer and announced at a later date.
Please wait for further updates.

If you wish to cancel your participation, no special notification to the event organizer is required.

In accordance with the cancellation policy, no refunds will be issued under any circumstances, including weather conditions, injury, or flight cancellations.

If you decide to withdraw after checking in and receiving your rider’s kit, you must return your timing chip.

Please come to the event office at the venue.

Please note that if the timing chip is not returned, you will be charged for the cost of the timing chip.

No. Entries and qualifications for the World Championships are not transferable.

Please note that if participation by a third party (including substitute riders) is discovered, the rider will be disqualified.

The following is a general guide to the climate in the Niseko area in late August:

Temperature:
Daytime: approximately 20–25°C
Nighttime: approximately 12–15°C

Weather conditions:
Generally sunny, but as the area is mountainous, sudden rain or fog may occur.

Please note that mornings and evenings can be cool, so we recommend bringing warm clothing.

Japan is well known as the lowest crime rates country.

However, as in any country, please take normal precautions and keep an eye on your personal belongings, including your bicycle, to prevent theft or loss.

Generally, tap water in the Niseko area is considered safe for drinking.

Please check the accommodation information here:

[The Accommodation Page]

Unfortunately, we do not provide official bicycle rental services for this event.

The event organizer has arranged a basic accident insurance policy that covers all participants.
This insurance applies to injuries caused by accidents occurring during the event (such as crashes), within the limits outlined below.

Accident Insurance Coverage

Death or Permanent Disability: up to JPY 10,000,000

Hospitalization: JPY 5,000 per day

Outpatient treatment: JPY 3,000 per day

This insurance provides fixed compensation and does not cover all medical expenses in full.
Participants are responsible for obtaining sufficient personal accident insurance and third-party liability insurance at their own discretion.

In addition, participants traveling from overseas are required to have valid medical insurance or travel insurance that covers medical treatment in Japan.

Riders must wear a national jersey representing their nationality.
This is based on the rider’s citizenship, even if the country of residence or the country that issued the racing license is different.

The jersey does not need to be an official national team jersey.
However, the design and colors must clearly and visually represent the rider’s country.

Displaying club names and personal sponsor logos on the jersey is permitted.
Please note that a club jersey with only a national flag added is not considered a national jersey.


If you are unsure whether your jersey complies with the regulations, please refer to the invitation email from UCI and contact your national cycling federation for confirmation.

Prohibition of Rainbow Stripes

During the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships period, the use of rainbow stripes or any similar designs is strictly prohibited on all equipment, including:

Jerseys (including sleeves and collars)

Bicycles

Helmets

Shoes

Shoe covers

Details regarding Team Relay entry will be announced once preparations are complete.
Please wait for further updates.