Hello! I’m Noriko, a local rider from the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido.As the drift ice recedes and the snow melts away, the cycling season is finally here!This time, since it’s the beginning of the season, I’d like to take you on a route where you can feel the breath of nature while warping by car. So let’s start right away from Memanbetsu Airport! In the pleasant seasons ahead, you can enjoy leisurely rides along the stretches of roads in Hokkaido, surrounded by the great outdoors. Passing by viewpoints like the ‘Märchen Hill Memanbetsu’ and ‘Märchen Hill Road Station,’ our first stop is ‘Gelateria Rimo’ in Yobito (Abashiri City). T […]

Hello everyone, I am Yuya Ishizuka, a cycling guide covering the entire Hokkaido region with a focus on Sapporo. Today, I’ll be introducing you to a scenic cycling route that embodies the essence of Hokkaido, stretching around Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido.

Hello, I’m Noriko, a cyclist from Kitami City, Hokkaido, Japan. This time, I would like to introduce a ride course in the captivating region of Okhotsk, which offers plenty of charm, including delicious treats, during the early summer.

On the first weekend of July, two cycling events were held in the Niseko area of Hokkaido. One is the Niseko Classic, a UCI-sanctioned citizens’ race, and the other is the Niseko Yotei Fun Ride, a loop around Mt. Yotei. With many entrants from overseas, the two-day event had a rich international flavor that is typical of Niseko.

The Niseko Classic has become so popular that there was a waiting list of over 100 people. 4 categories of 49 years old and under are eligible for the UCIGFWS for the 140km course (elevation gain: 2,362m) and 5 categories of 50 years old and over for the 70km course (elevation gain: 1,125m); all other categories are open to participants. It is interesting to note that the 70km course attracted the largest number of participants in this category, namely those aged 19-49, an open category not covered by the UCIGFWS. This is probably an indication that many people want to genuinely enjoy road racing regardless of participation rights.

Now, one of the fun parts of a fun ride is the refreshments at the aid stations. AEON Hokkaido was a special sponsor of this event, and a large amount of AEON PB jellies, drinks, bananas, and other items were distributed to support the participants’ run.