Japan eyes multi-city bid for 2035 World Championships

Japan is preparing an ambitious bid to host the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2035, with the Japan Cycling Federation proposing a multi-city model that would see disciplines staged across different parts of the country.

The plan was outlined by Japan Cycling Federation vice-president Koichi Nakano and executive director Kunihiko Kaji in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun published on Sunday.

The federation is considering a “city-based” approach, using multiple cities and regions rather than concentrating the championships in a single host location. 

The idea comes as the UCI’s combined “super” World Championships continue to grow. 

Glasgow, Scotland hosted the inaugural edition in 2023, bringing together 13 championships at nine venues, while Haute-Savoie, France will host 20 championships across 12 sites in 2027. Trentino, Italy has been awarded the 2031 edition of the ‘Super’ Worlds. 

Japan has just hosted the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, which ran from August 26-30 and marked the first edition of the event to be held in Asia.

The country previously hosted the UCI Road World Championships before, in Utsunomiya. Rudy Dhaenens won the elite men’s road race ahead of compatriot Dirk De Wolf, while France’s Catherine Marsal took the women’s title.

The road Worlds returned to Asia for the second time in 2016, when Doha, Qatar hosted the championships, and where Peter Sagan and Amalie Dideriksen claimed the elite road race titles.

The federation believes a 2035 World Championships could help grow cycling in Japan while bringing international visitors and economic benefits to host communities.

It will now work with local governments and other organisations to develop the hosting concept and advance the bid.