Japan's First Ever National Championships in Cycling E-sports Supported by JPF as Gold Sponsor
On August 16, 2026, history was made with the first-ever Japan National Cycling E-sports Championships, held at eSports Field in Itabashi, Tokyo. This revolutionary event was proudly supported by JPF as a gold sponsor, furthering the brand’s commitment to advancing cycling sports in Japan.
JPF, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has a longstanding history of operating public sports venues and promoting cycling. They believe that Cycling E-sports serves as a gateway for new enthusiasts to engage with cycling competitions. The beauty of this e-sport lies in its ability to use real bicycles connected to smart trainers, allowing competitive racing in a controlled online environment. As it does not require specialized racing facilities, it opens doors to various regions, ensuring wider participation and experience.
In addition to its sponsorship, JPF actively contributed to the event's organization from the preparatory stages, providing staff who worked diligently on the operational aspects on the day of the event. Their involvement was critical in ensuring the smooth execution of the championship, demonstrating their dedication to fostering a positive experience for all participants.
The world of Cycling E-sports has expanded significantly since the inaugural World Championship held by UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) in 2020. Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) incorporated online cycling events via the Zwift platform during the 2023 Olympic Esports Series. It is also noteworthy that the Cycling E-sports events are set to be included in the upcoming 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships in France.
With such international developments, the excitement surrounding the first National Cycling E-sports Championships could not have come at a better time for Japan.
The event, hosted by the Japan Cycling Federation (JCF), saw the culmination of online qualifying rounds leading to the finals, featuring an impressive lineup of 13 competitors: 10 men and 3 women. The competitions were held in both men's and women's open categories. Notably, Junsei Honda, representing Restart p/b alex coh, claimed victory in the men's open division, and Yuka Yamamoto from High Ambition triumphed in the women's category, earning the right to wear the National Champion jersey as Japan's inaugural champions.
Final Results:
Cycling E-sports intricately combines the physicality of cycling with digital gameplay. The athletes connect their actual bicycles to smart trainers, transferring their power output to avatars racing in a virtual world, fostering a sense of realism in competition. For this championship, Zwift provided the platform, executing a scratch format race for 36.8 km for men and 26.4 km for women, where competitors received real-time feedback on their performance as they pedaled.
The competition was dynamically staged, with all finalists physically present in the same venue, creating a thrilling atmosphere as monitors displayed both the athletes and their virtual counterparts over the course. The event was streamed live on the official JCF YouTube channel, where race announcer Justive7 and analysts Fumiyuki Beppu and Usamin provided expert insights.
The resilience against weather changes and the ability to customize categories based on age and skill level make Cycling E-sports an advantageous option for not just competitive events, but also for training sessions and community engagement activities.
Moving forward, JPF aims to leverage this sponsorship and its experiences to expand the realm of Cycling E-sports, evaluating future possibilities for regionally managed public sports venues and related events in Japan.
Event Name: 1st Japan National Cycling Championships - Cycling E-sports
Date: August 16, 2026
Venue: eSports Field (1-79-3 Takashimadaira, Itabashi, Tokyo)
Organizer: Japan Cycling Federation (JCF)
Event Sponsors: JPF Company, Nuton Cycling
Cooperation: RATEL, Wahoo, eSports Field
Categories: Men's Open, Women's Open
Competition Platform: Zwift
Finalists: 10 men, 3 women (13 total)
Race Distances: Men's 36.8 km, Women's 26.4 km
Founded in 1950, JPF was the pioneer in developing slit cameras for finish line judgments in public sports competitions like cycling and boat racing. Since then, the company has supported many public sports venues' judging operations. In 2010, they expanded into total management services for public sports venues, offering operational support across Japan. JPF’s philosophy incorporates providing opportunities for personal development, actively contributing to community development and the promotion of cycling sports through diverse initiatives.
JPF, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has a longstanding history of operating public sports venues and promoting cycling. They believe that Cycling E-sports serves as a gateway for new enthusiasts to engage with cycling competitions. The beauty of this e-sport lies in its ability to use real bicycles connected to smart trainers, allowing competitive racing in a controlled online environment. As it does not require specialized racing facilities, it opens doors to various regions, ensuring wider participation and experience.
In addition to its sponsorship, JPF actively contributed to the event's organization from the preparatory stages, providing staff who worked diligently on the operational aspects on the day of the event. Their involvement was critical in ensuring the smooth execution of the championship, demonstrating their dedication to fostering a positive experience for all participants.
International Growth of Cycling E-sports
The world of Cycling E-sports has expanded significantly since the inaugural World Championship held by UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) in 2020. Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) incorporated online cycling events via the Zwift platform during the 2023 Olympic Esports Series. It is also noteworthy that the Cycling E-sports events are set to be included in the upcoming 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships in France.
With such international developments, the excitement surrounding the first National Cycling E-sports Championships could not have come at a better time for Japan.
Outstanding Athletes Crowned
The event, hosted by the Japan Cycling Federation (JCF), saw the culmination of online qualifying rounds leading to the finals, featuring an impressive lineup of 13 competitors: 10 men and 3 women. The competitions were held in both men's and women's open categories. Notably, Junsei Honda, representing Restart p/b alex coh, claimed victory in the men's open division, and Yuka Yamamoto from High Ambition triumphed in the women's category, earning the right to wear the National Champion jersey as Japan's inaugural champions.
Final Results:
| Category | Rank | Athlete | Team | Time |
|---|
| ---- | -- | ---- | ------ | --- |
|---|
| Men's Open | 1st | Junsei Honda | Restart p/b alex coh | 54:39 |
|---|
| 2nd | Daichi Ito | Equipe Tohoku | 54:43 |
|---|
| 3rd | Tatsuya Shimokawa | EMU SPEED CLUB | 54:45 |
|---|
| Women's Open | 1st | Yuka Yamamoto | High Ambition | 41:42 |
|---|
| 2nd | Maki Nakajima | EVO Cycling Club | 41:53 |
|---|
| 3rd | Emi Sato | - | 42:41 |
|---|
The Virtual Realism of Cycling E-sports
Cycling E-sports intricately combines the physicality of cycling with digital gameplay. The athletes connect their actual bicycles to smart trainers, transferring their power output to avatars racing in a virtual world, fostering a sense of realism in competition. For this championship, Zwift provided the platform, executing a scratch format race for 36.8 km for men and 26.4 km for women, where competitors received real-time feedback on their performance as they pedaled.
The competition was dynamically staged, with all finalists physically present in the same venue, creating a thrilling atmosphere as monitors displayed both the athletes and their virtual counterparts over the course. The event was streamed live on the official JCF YouTube channel, where race announcer Justive7 and analysts Fumiyuki Beppu and Usamin provided expert insights.
The resilience against weather changes and the ability to customize categories based on age and skill level make Cycling E-sports an advantageous option for not just competitive events, but also for training sessions and community engagement activities.
Moving forward, JPF aims to leverage this sponsorship and its experiences to expand the realm of Cycling E-sports, evaluating future possibilities for regionally managed public sports venues and related events in Japan.
Event Overview
Event Name: 1st Japan National Cycling Championships - Cycling E-sports
Date: August 16, 2026
Venue: eSports Field (1-79-3 Takashimadaira, Itabashi, Tokyo)
Organizer: Japan Cycling Federation (JCF)
Event Sponsors: JPF Company, Nuton Cycling
Cooperation: RATEL, Wahoo, eSports Field
Categories: Men's Open, Women's Open
Competition Platform: Zwift
Finalists: 10 men, 3 women (13 total)
Race Distances: Men's 36.8 km, Women's 26.4 km
About JPF
Founded in 1950, JPF was the pioneer in developing slit cameras for finish line judgments in public sports competitions like cycling and boat racing. Since then, the company has supported many public sports venues' judging operations. In 2010, they expanded into total management services for public sports venues, offering operational support across Japan. JPF’s philosophy incorporates providing opportunities for personal development, actively contributing to community development and the promotion of cycling sports through diverse initiatives.
Topics People & Culture）
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