Hosting the '2026 Tour de France SAITAMA Criterium', a cycling event bearing the name of the world's premier cycling road race, the 'Tour de France'

The Saitama Criterium Organizing Committee and the Saitama Sports Commission have decided to host the "2026 Tour de France SAITAMA Criterium," a cycling event bearing the name of the world's premier cycling road race, the "Tour de France," on Sunday, November 15, 2026, around Saitama Shintoshin Station.

A "criterium" is a type of bicycle road race that involves doing laps around a course set up in urban areas. The "Tour de France Saitama Criterium" invites athletes who have performed exceptionally well in the "Tour de France," the world's premier race held mainly in France every summer, to race on a special course around Saitama Shintoshin Station.

Event Overview

- Name
2026 Tour de France SAITAMA Criterium

- Organizers
Saitama Criterium Organizing Committee, Saitama Sports Commission (General Incorporated Association)

- Co-organizers
Saitama Prefecture (tentative), Saitama City, A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation)

- Special Cooperation
Saitama Criterium Promotion Committee

- Competition Supervisor
Japan Cycling Federation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

- Date
Sunday, November 15, 2026

- Venue
Around Saitama Shintoshin Station

- Contents (tentative)
(1) Criterium race (race by invited international athletes and domestic athletes)
(2) Time trial race
(3) Public participation experience events on the course and at the event venue
(4) PR booths for sponsor companies and bicycle-related companies
(5) Bustle-creation events
(6) Public viewing
(7) Cultural exchange with invited international athletes

- Co-hosted Events
"2026 Cycle Festa" and "2026 Saitamarche in Saitama Criterium"

Tournament Course

Due to renovation work at GMO Arena Saitama (Saitama Super Arena), the course will use the perimeter of the arena instead of passing through the inside of GMO Arena Saitama.

Co-hosted Events

<2026 Cycle Festa>

- Name
2026 Cycle Festa

- Date (tentative)
Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026

- Venue
Special Cycle Festa Venue (around Saitama Shintoshin Park)

- Purpose
To promote the "Saitama Bicycle City Planning Plan ~Saitama Heart~", the event aims to widely and effectively communicate the city's initiatives and the appeal of bicycles from the four perspectives that are the pillars of Saitama City's bicycle policy: "Enjoying," "Protecting," "Riding," and "Parking." It also aims to further promote bicycle use, ensure strict compliance with traffic rules, and raise awareness of traffic manners.

- Contents (tentative)
Bicycle experience zones, traffic safety events, bicycle-related booths, etc.

- Admission Fee
Free

- Contact
Saitama City Bicycle City Planning Promotion Division, Bicycle Policy Section
TEL: 048-829-1398
FAX: 048-829-1979

<2026 Saitamarche in Saitama Criterium>

- Name
2026 Saitamarche in Saitama Criterium

- Date (tentative)
Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026

- Venue
Saitama Shintoshin Keyaki Hiroba 2nd Floor

- Purpose
To promote the "food" of Saitama City and to provide a place (opportunity) to encounter it, thereby fostering local love and revitalizing the local economy.

- Contents
Sale of sweets, food and drinks, food and drink/merchandise/PR booths of sponsoring companies, etc.

- Contact
Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau, Tourism Business Division, Event Business Section 3
TEL: 048-647-8339

Contact for details about the Tour de France Saitama Criterium

Saitama Criterium Tournament Secretariat (within Saitama Sports Commission)
Kita-Urawa Terminal Building 3F, 1-7-1 Kita-Urawa, Urawa-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture 330-0074
TEL: 048-762-8349
FAX: 048-762-8474
E-mail: cycle-jigyou(at)saitamasc.jp *Please replace (at) with @.