Coupe du Japonくまもと吉無田国際 2026

The Kumamoto Yoshimuta International is a Coupe du Japon mountain bike race held at Yoshimuta Kogen Green Village in Mifune, Kumamoto Prefecture. It serves as an autumn round of Japan's MTB series, also known as the Autumn Yoshimuta Mountain Bike Festa. The Mountain Bike League of Japan organizes the event. The venue is located approximately 30 minutes from Kumamoto Airport, making it one of the more accessible CJ stops after arrival. The XCO lap measures 3.67 km, beginning at an elevation of 588 m and reaching a high point of 696 m. Competitors characterize the Kumamoto course by a climb lasting around five minutes, featuring steep sections followed by flat stretches that demand continuous effort rather than recovery. The short-track XCC race follows a similar demanding rhythm: high pace, sharp ascents, and a struggle to maintain power over the summit. Race accounts note dry conditions, overcast skies, heat during certain years, and volcanic ash affecting riders' respiration. Elite and junior racers participate in the festival, but the course's difficulty means that competitors falling too far behind can be removed after being lapped.