Team UKYO announces five new Japanese riders for the 2026 roster. After winning the team ranking in the UCI Asian Tour and being the second Continental team worldwide in the UCI ranking, the Japanese team wants to maintain high standards for the next season.

With this goal, five new riders will join Team UKYO: Kazushige Kuboki, Jin Soneda, Yoshiki Terada, Yato Watanabe and Tetsuo Yamamoto. Together with Manabu Ishibashi, these riders will maintain the Japanese soul of the team.

Kazushige Kuboki, 36 years old, has already worn the Team UKYO jersey in 2014 and 2015, becoming the Japanese national champion in 2015. On the road, he has won two stages at the Tour of Japan (2019 and 2023) and the national time trial championships in 2018. In his long track career, he became the Scratch World Champion in 2024 and collected three silver medals: two in scratch (in 2022 and 2023) and one in omnium (in 2025). After a year with the Bahrain Victorious Development Team, time trial specialist Yoshiki Terada is ready to take another step forward in his career. The 23-year-old has won the Japanese U23 national road championship twice: in 2024 in the road race and in 2023 in the time trial. In 2024, he also triumphed in the points classification of the Tour of Japan, where he finished second in the prologue.

Jin Soneda is a young talent turning professional in 2026. The 20-year-old was 4th in the Utsunomiya Japan Cup Open Racer. Like him, the 22-year-old Yato Watanabe will also have his first professional experience.

Tetsuo Yamamoto joins Team UKYO after five years with Team Bridgestone Cycling. The 25-year-old finished fourth in the second stage of the 2025 Tour de Kumano and seventh in the short prologue of this year's Tour of Japan.

Recalling his experience with an Italian team in 2016 and 2017, Kazushige Kuboki stated: "I am very excited to race with Italian teammates. I remember the excellent teamwork we had in the previous experience. Looking ahead, my personal big goal is to train to aim for a gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. I can't wait to bring my energy and dedication to bring the team to a successful level. I would like to help with my experience, leadership, and strong competitive spirit".

With a base in Tokyo and one in Colle Brianza, Italy, the team is committed to working with young talents from around the world while contributing to the development of the Japanese cycling movement with the best local riders. The six Japanese riders, including Manabu Ishibashi, who renewed after last season, will be part of an international roster in 2026. The last two riders who will join the team for 2026 will be announced soon.