We Sponsored the “UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Niseko” — Its First Edition in Asia
高橋敏子税理士事務所Our office is proud to have taken part as one of the Official Event Partners of the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Niseko (the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, commonly known as Niseko Classic 2026), held in Niseko, Hokkaido, in August 2026.
This championship is the world’s premier event for amateur cyclists, organized by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). Regarded as the pinnacle of amateur road racing, it is open only to riders who finish among the top competitors in qualifying events held around the world (the UCI Gran Fondo World Series). The 2026 edition marked the first time the championship has ever been held in Asia. Top amateur riders from across the globe raced against the magnificent backdrop of Niseko, with Mount Yotei rising in the distance.
Although our office has no direct involvement in competitive cycling, we serve a number of clients in the Niseko area and place great value on our ties to the local community. Our foremost motivation in becoming a sponsor was a simple one: we wanted to support Niseko in summer. Niseko is well known for the bustle of its winter ski season, but summer brings comparatively few visitors, making it a difficult time of year for local restaurants and other businesses. Hoping to bring even a little vitality to Niseko’s economy outside the ski season, we were glad to take part—modestly, through sponsorship—in this major international summer event. On race day, the head of our office was there in person, ringing a cowbell to cheer the riders on.
What stayed with us most was how, despite an international lineup befitting a world championship, a warm and welcoming atmosphere ran through the roadside crowds and the venue as a whole. It was a chance to experience firsthand the special appeal that only road cycling can offer.
You can read a personal blog post about the event, written by the head of our office,here.
For more about the championship, please see the official Niseko Classic website.
