2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Niseko, Japan
26 – 30 August 2026
See our flexible bookings payment plans. View Details.
2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Niseko, Japan
The biggest Sportive cycling event of the year. The 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships take place in Niseko, Japan between the 26th and 30th October 2026.
Sportive Breaks Tour dates:
- 4 night tour – 27 – 31 August
- 6 night tour – 25 – 31 August
The event sees riders from around the world compete for the Rainbow Jersey in the Time Trial and Gran Fondo Road Race. This event is the pinnacle of amateur Gran Fondo racing. To qualify, participants must an event that’s part of the 2025 and 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Series and finish in the top 25% of your age group. Qualifying is not as hard as you think so give it a go and represent your country in 2026!
2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko schedule
- Thursday 27 August: Time Trial
- Friday 28 August: Team Relay Criterium
- Sunday 30 August: UCI Gran Fondo World Championships – Gran Fondo
Sportive Breaks and the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
Sportive Breaks are one of the most experienced Tour Operators for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships and were the official travel partner for the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Perth, Scotland, as well as providing travel and support packages to qualified riders for the 2024 edition in Aalborg and the 2025 edition in Lorne. We will have staff support at the event in Niseko to support you during your stay.
Spread your payments: Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking
Spread your payments and pay in your local currency: Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. Pay in a selection of currencies
Book with the experts: Sportive Breaks are the official travel partner of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. We also looked after Team Australia in Perth in 2023, Aalborg in 2024 and Lorne in 2025
Hotel in a prime location: Stay in a hotel ideally situated for this event
All room types available: Stay in a room to suit your needs in a great location with Sportive Breaks
Cycling services: As well as hotels, we also offer mechanic services, guided rides on the courses and advice and support from our experienced team of hosts and riders
Chef de Mission and Team: The knowledge and support of our team of hosts and guides is a valuable asset for all our riders
What's Included?
Accommodation
Stay in a hotel ideally situated for this event
Available Rooms
Single, Double, Twin, triple, quad and family rooms
Guided Warm-Up Rides
Recon of ITT course and highlights of Gran Fondo course
Mechanic
Mechanic service with assistance with bike building after travel
Airport Transfers - Available as an supplement
Group transfers available on Tuesday and Monday. Private transfers available on request
Experienced Team
Experienced team of guides and mechanics. Single travellers are welcome to join our group.
Packages and Prices
Stay with us in Niseko and enjoy the support of our experienced bike guides, hosts and bike mechanics.
Room Types
- TBC
Prices
- TBC
Included with your tour
- 4 or 6 nights in Niseko, Japan
- Expert guides and bike mechanic
- Guided warm-up rides
- Detailed itinerary
- ABTA protected
Also available
- Airport transfers at set times available at a supplement
- Private transfers available on request
Itinerary (Example from 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships)
Day To Day Example - Lorne 2025
Self-arrival possible
If you don’t require an airport transfer please make your own arrangements to arrive at our hotel in Lorne today. Our team will be available to meet you at the hotel Cumberland in Lorne.
Melbourne Airport Transfers – Available at £90pp
If you are flying in today, then you can book one of our airport transfers today. Fly into Melbourne Airport today and our team will meet you. The transfer takes just over 2 hours and can be added when you make your booking. We will run two transfers: one midday at 12:00pm and another one late afternoon at 18:00pm.
If you want to arrive at any other time, then we also offer private transfers on request. Please contact us if you require a private transfer.
Our hotel
We are staying at Hotel Cumberland in Lorne. Your stay will be for 6 nights and will be on a room-only/self-catering basis. Each apartment has a well-equipped kitchen and washing facilities to be your home away from home.
What about my bike?
You can bring your own bike as we have planned to transport bike boxes on our airport transfers. Our mechanic will be available this afternoon at the hotel to assist you with building your bike after travel. Bikes can be safely stored at the hotel.
This morning our team is available at the hotel and will continue to assist those who didn’t build their bikes yesterday.
If you are taking part in the ITT
After breakfast, our team will lead you on a short, guided ride of the Time Trial course. You can also register for tomorrow’s event and collect your race pack and attend the official riders briefing.
All other riders
Today we offer an optional guided ride which will take in parts of the Gran Fondo Course. More details on this day’s full itinerary will be published closer to the time.
Self-arrival possible today
Please make your own arrangements to arrive at our hotel in Lorne today. Our team will be available to meet you at the hotel Cumberland in Lorne.
If you are taking part in the ITT
After breakfast, please make your way over to the Time Trial start. We offer private warm-up areas with turbo trainers to warm up and get ready for your slot. This afternoon the podium ceremonies take place in Lorne.
All other riders
Today we offer an optional guided ride which will take in parts of the Gran Fondo Course. More details on this day’s full itinerary will be published closer to the time.
The team relay is an event where mixed teams from various countries challenge for the title.
If you are taking part in the Criterium (Team Relay)
Please make your own way over to the Criterium start, which is 45km away in Geelong. This afternoon the podium ceremonies take place in Lorne.
All other riders
Today we offer an optional guided ride which will take in parts of the Gran Fondo Course. More details on this day’s full itinerary will be published closer to the time.
Please ensure that you register for tomorrow’s event today.
We also offer a guided ride on the Gran Fondo route. A short coffee spin to keep your legs moving, but nothing too strenuous the day before the Gran Fondo.
After the ride, please make your way to the event expo to collect your race pack and attend the technical briefing for tomorrow’s Gran Fondo.
Event Registration – TBC
- 09:00am – 18:00: Registration and collection of race packs
- 14:00pm – 15:00pm – Technical briefing for Gran Fondo
Today is the day!
Getting to the start
It’s just a short roll out from each of our hotels to the start line. Please make your own way to the start this morning, based on your own start time. Our staff will be on hand this morning if you have any last-minute mechanical issues, or if you need directions to the start line.
- Timing – 07:30am
- Start Location – Mountjoy Parade, Lorne – Victoria, Australia
- Distance – 131km
Age Groups – 19-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+ (Age on 31 Dec 2025)
After you finish our team is available to assist you with re-packing bikes before travel.
Departure after breakfast. We offer airport transfers back to Melbourne airport at set times today.
If you want to depart at any other time, please contact us if you require a private transfer.
More About the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 2026
Launched in 2011, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series (formerly known as the UCI World Cycling Tour) is a series of UCI-sanctioned road races held all over the world. Throughout the 2025-2026 season, a series of events will qualify the top 25% in each age group for the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The age group winners of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are awarded the UCI rainbow jersey. The qualifier events are open to riders of all levels – those who aim to make the podium and others who wish to cross the finish line in the best possible time. For more information, click here.
Who can take part?
Each UCI Gran Fondo World Series event of the 2025-2026 seasons grants qualification rights for the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships (to view the events calendar, click here). Based on the results of each race, the first 25% of athletes in each age group will be qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The 25% is calculated based on the number of starters in each age group, and not on the number of riders having finished the race. In addition, the first three riders of each official age category will qualify directly for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, independently of the number of starters in that age group. Riders must finish the race to gain qualification. For all rules, click here.
Jersey is obligatory
It is mandatory for a rider to wear their national kit at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Time Trial, Team Relay and Road Race. Although the official national jersey is not required, a jersey representing their country with a similar design and colours as the original national team jersey is required. Private or club sponsors are allowed to be featured on the national jersey.
2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
Sportive Breaks were the official fan and amateur participant travel and experiences provider of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and Scotland.
2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
The 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships took place in Aalborg, Denmark.
2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
The 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships took place in Lorne, Australia.
2026 UCI Gran Fondo Strava Routes - Coming soon
2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships – Coming soon
Please contact us if you are interested in this event.
You're in safe hands
We have a team of highly experienced professionals who have been organising cycling trips for over 25 years. We are members of ABTA and ATOL meaning you can book with confidence.
Plenty to choose from
Did you know? We offer the biggest selection of European Gran Fondo and Cyclo-Sportive events.
Spread your payments
Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. *Selected products. Terms and Conditions apply
Logistics covered
We know the routes, we know the roads. We know how the event works and the best hotels for the start and finish. We organise everything for you; transfers, bike transport, additional feed stops, rep support and more.
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