ツアー・オブ・ジャパン 2026

Tommaso Dati Dominates Wearing Number 1
Tetsuo Yamamoto Finishes Second as TEAM UKYO Takes a One-Two Start

The Sakai Stage, the opening stage of Tour of Japan 2026, was held on the Daisen Park circuit course. Riding 32nd on the start list, Tommaso Dati of TEAM UKYO claimed victory with the fastest time of 2:57.94, earning the Green Jersey as the overall race leader.

The traditional Sakai Stage, which annually opens the Tour of Japan, is a short 2.6km individual time trial. As the first day of a stage race, it also serves as an ideal opportunity to reveal which riders have good condition at the start of the race.

The race began with Mads Andersen of Swatt Club, the fourth rider to start and part of the first wave, setting an early benchmark of 3:00.47. None of the following riders could approach the impressive time, although teammate Matias Malmberg came close with 3:00.59 to move into provisional second place.

The Swatt Club dominance was finally challenged by Tommaso Dati of TEAM UKYO, who started 32nd overall. Wearing race number 1 as part of the defending champion team, Dati delivered a sensational ride, beating Andersen’s time by more than two seconds. His winning time of 2:57.94 was even faster than last year’s winning mark.

Last year’s second-place rider, Liam Walsh of CCACHE X Bodywrap started 91st and finished in 3:00.61, placing provisional fourth. But the rider who truly ignited the finale was TEAM UKYO’s Tetsuo Yamamoto, the 96th and final starter of the day.

Yamamoto joined the race at short notice because one teammate became sick.
Before the race, Yamamoto said:
“Last year I was seventh on the stage, five seconds down, but this year I can race in a skinsuit and with much stronger team support, so I believed I could target a top position.” 
He finished in 2:59.12, under the three-minute mark.
Yamamoto finished second behind teammate Dati, giving TEAM UKYO a perfect one-two finish to start the race.

Yamamoto has now finished second twice in TOJ stages.
He also finished third in the past. Before the race, he said:
“As a Japanese rider, I really want to win at TOJ.”

Meanwhile, stage winner Dati emphasized that he is not targeting the general classification.
“I’m not a GC rider,” said Dati. “I see myself as the type of rider who can handle 20-minute climbs while also having sprint speed.”
The question now is whether TEAM UKYO will once again dominate the Tour of Japan. The race has only just started.

Green Jersey (Overall Leader)　Blue Jersey(Points) Tommaso Dati (TEAM UKYO)：
“While racing the Sakai International Criterium, I learned where on the course I could carry speed and where I would lose it. It’s great to win, but I’m not a rider targeting the overall classification. Other riders on the team will focus on GC. Today’s result probably won’t have much influence on the final overall standings. Still, I want to defend this leader’s jersey tomorrow, and it would be even better if I can win some of the trickier stages ahead. I think those kinds of courses suit me well.”

White Jersey (Best Young Rider) Oscar Gallagher (CCACHE X Bodywrap)：
“I see myself as a sprinter who can handle short, high-intensity climbs. Our team has Liam Walsh as the main sprinter, so on the flat stages I’ll mainly work as his lead-out rider. Hopefully my own opportunities will come eventually, but my role in this race is to support the team. This is the first time I’ve worn a Best Young Rider jersey in a UCI race. I’d like to keep it at least until the Mt. Fuji Stage.”

Stage 1 Results
Tommaso Dati (TEAM UKYO) — 2:57.94
Tetsuo Yamamoto (TEAM UKYO) — +1.18
Mads Andersen (Swatt Club) — +2.53

Overall Classification (Green Jersey)
Tommaso Dati (TEAM UKYO) — 2:57
Tetsuo Yamamoto (TEAM UKYO) — +2s
Mads Andersen (Swatt Club) — +3s

Points Classification (Blue Jersey)
Tommaso Dati (TEAM UKYO) — 10 pts
Tetsuo Yamamoto (TEAM UKYO) — 9 pts
Mads Andersen (Swatt Club) — 8 pts

Best Young Rider Classification (White Jersey)
Oscar Gallagher (CCACHE x Bodywrap)
Yujin Sumita (VC Fukuoka)
Wil Heath (CCACHE x Bodywrap)

RTA Award
Yujin Sumita (VC Fukuoka)