Sasebo Criterium Race Report

The Tour de Kyushu Comes to Nagasaki Prefecture for the First Time

On Friday, October 10, 2025, ahead of the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2025, the Sasebo Criterium was held on a course through Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
In a thrilling sprint finish, Joseph Pidcock of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team claimed victory by a narrow margin.

The opening day of the four-day event featured the traditional Exhibition Criterium, this time set in the port city of Sasebo in western Nagasaki.
The 1.5 km circuit, starting and finishing at Sasebo Port and passing in front of Sasebo Station, showcased the city’s character and charm.
Riders completed 30 laps (45 km total) around this urban course.

Before the race began, a tape-cutting ceremony was held with the following guests (from left):
Koichi Nakano, Event Ambassador; Masahiro Hokama, Chairman of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly; Kengo Oishi, Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture; Kazuhiro Ikebe, Chairman of the Tour de Kyushu 2025 Executive Committee; Daisuke Miyajima, Mayor of Sasebo; and Hidetoshi Kuno, Chairman of the Sasebo City Council.

The race began with Team TotalEnergies—last year’s criterium runner-up and overall race-winning team—taking the front position at the start line.

The Race

Under sweltering 30°C heat, the race started precisely at 1:00 p.m.
After a cautious opening few laps, Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) and Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) broke away on lap 4, maintaining a small gap before being reeled back in by the peloton on lap 8.

Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) broke away on the fourth lap.

On lap 10, which carried the intermediate sprint prize, Mark Donovan (Q36.5) surged ahead to claim the points.
He was joined by four riders to form a lead group, but the chase—driven by Yukiya Arashiro (Solution Tech–Vini Fantini)—caught them again on lap 12.

Yukiya Arashiro (Solution Tech–Vini Fantini) leads the peloton.

The peloton rides through the port area in front of the “Sasebo Gobangai” commercial complex.

Shortly after, Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) launched a solo attack and led for several laps.
Pidcock then launched a counterattack from the bunch and bridged up to Jegat, completing lap 15 as a leading duo.

Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) caught up with the breakaway rider Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and once again took the lead.

By lap 18, the front group was joined by Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies), Jeroen Meijers (Victoria Sports Pro Cycling), Martijn Laarsemburgh (Q36.5), and Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team) — forming the day’s decisive six-man breakaway, featuring two riders each from TotalEnergies and Q36.5.

With a 19-second lead over the peloton, the six entered the final lap.
Laarsemburgh, riding for Q36.5 as a trainee this summer, led out Pidcock through the final corner.
Delle Vedove launched a furious chase, and the two threw their bikes at the line in an incredibly close sprint finish.

The sprint battle between Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team) came down to a tight photo finish, with both riders throwing their bikes at the line.

The result was so tight that even the riders weren’t sure who had won — but photo review confirmed Pidcock’s victory.
Soupe took third place.

Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) celebrates his victory with his teammate.

Sasebo Criterium Results

Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) — 1h 00m 16s
Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team) — same time
Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies) — same time

Pidcock’s Post-Race Comment

“After a long trip, I wasn’t sure how my condition would be, but once the race started, I felt good right away.
When I’m in good form, being in a small breakaway makes it much easier to control the race — being 5–10 riders back makes it much tougher.
I raced in Japan two years ago, and I was happy to see the roadsides packed with cheering fans again.
Our team has strong climbers, so they’ll perform well starting tomorrow, and I hope to have my own chances too.”

Intermediate Sprint Winners

Lap 10: Mark Donovan (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
Lap 15: Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
Lap 20: Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies)
Lap 25: Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team)

Best Japanese Rider:
Katsuya Okamoto (Team Bridgestone Cycling)

Sasebo Criterium Results

Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) — 1h 00m 16s
Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team) — same time
Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies) — same time

Pidcock’s Post-Race Comment

“After a long trip, I wasn’t sure how my condition would be, but once the race started, I felt good right away.
When I’m in good form, being in a small breakaway makes it much easier to control the race — being 5–10 riders back makes it much tougher.
I raced in Japan two years ago, and I was happy to see the roadsides packed with cheering fans again.
Our team has strong climbers, so they’ll perform well starting tomorrow, and I hope to have my own chances too.”

Intermediate Sprint Winners

Lap 10: Mark Donovan (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
Lap 15: Joseph Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
Lap 20: Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies)
Lap 25: Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS–Astana Team)

Best Japanese Rider:
Katsuya Okamoto (Team Bridgestone Cycling)

Next Stage

On Saturday, October 11, Stage 1 Fukuoka of the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2025 will take place over 120.43 km, from Chikugo to Yame.
With six Category 2 climbs on the circuit, it promises to be a demanding route — and could play a crucial role in shaping the overall classification right from day one.

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