Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2025 – Fukuoka Stage (Stage 1)

The opening stage of the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2025 was held over a 120.43 km course from Chikugo to Yame. In a sprint between two riders who broke away on the final climb, Kyrylo Tsarenko (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini) claimed victory. Tsarenko also took the lead in the general classification, earning the blue leader’s jersey..    

The Sasebo Criterium held the previous day revealed a blend of ambitions and realities among the riders—it served as a warm-up for the WorldTeams and ProTeams, while presenting a formidable test for the Continental teams.

The race started under clear skies at Chikugo Wide-Area Park, on what turned out to be a record-breaking hot day for October.

Among the few Japanese riders who rode aggressively in the latter half of the race, Tetsuo Yamamoto (Team Bridgestone Cycling) reflected candidly:

“It was a total shutout… we were completely overpowered. It shows just how high the level is in road races featuring WorldTeams and ProTeams.”

For Yukiya Arashiro (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini), one of Japan’s most experienced riders on this level, the criterium was both enjoyable and important preparation:

“Depending on the rider, long flights can really affect muscle condition, so it’s important to get the legs going in a criterium like that. I focused on staying safe and riding at the front. The atmosphere was amazing—so many kids and so much cheering along the course. It was just an hour, but I think everyone had a good time.”

With that, the three-day stage race began. One of the top GC favorites, Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), had also used the criterium as a warm-up. Despite saying before the race, “I’ll take it easy today to save my legs for the stage race,” he ended up forming a breakaway group and driving the race from the front.

“My teammates told me to go, so I did. I ended up with Geoffrey Soupe—a great rider who has taught me a lot. I really wanted to repay that by racing hard. It was great that he made it to the podium too.”

Before the start, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with:
Koichi Nakano (Race Ambassador), Seitaro Hattori (Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture), Hiroshi Kuraushi (Chairman, Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly), Yutaro Minobara (Mayor of Yame City), and other officials including members of the Tour de Kyushu Executive Committee.

The Fukuoka Stage, the first of the stage race, covered 120.43 km—starting at Chikugo Wide Area Park and finishing at the site of the former Kurogi Station in Yame City. After a flat opening section, riders completed six laps of a 16.74 km circuit featuring the demanding Orange Road categorized as a 2nd-category climb. Many considered this a decisive stage for the general classification.

At the 7 km mark, a seven-man breakaway formed, including the only ProTeam rider, Andrea Piras (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini).

The others were Yudai Arashiro (Kinan Racing Team), Kiyoshi Oda (Matrix Powertag), Nariyuki Masuda (Team UKYO), Ruben Acosta (Utsunomiya Blitzen), Nicol Parreja (Victoria Sports Pro Cycling), and Tari Lane-Welsh (SeaCash X Bodywrap).

With tea fields as their backdrop, the peloton—driven by TotalEnergies—kept the gap to under three minutes.

Hijiri Oda (Matrix Powertag) dominated the mountain points, cresting all four climbs first and effectively securing the King of the Mountains jersey for the day.

Oda also won the first sprint point at 36 km but clarified afterward:

“I wasn’t targeting the points classification—I wanted the bonus seconds to improve my GC standing if it came down to a group finish.”

Another strong performance came from Masuda, who took 2nd in the first sprint and 1st in the second, earning five bonus seconds that would later prove decisive in the GC.

At the first sprint point, Hijiri Oda crossed the line first, followed by Nariyuki Masuda (TEAM UKYO) in second.

With 35 km remaining, TotalEnergies reeled in the break. The group shattered on the climbs, with Alessandro Fancell (Team UKYO) and Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) attacking and cresting together on the penultimate climb.

Jordann Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Alessandro Fancellu (TEAM UKYO)

“Yesterday I said I’d ride conservatively and ended up attacking, so today I’ll just say I’ll attack,” Jegat had joked before the start—then backed it up with an aggressive ride.

However, on the descent and flats, chasers regrouped, and the race entered the final lap with an elite but cautious front group.

A select lead group was formed, but hesitation and tactical marking soon slowed the pace, allowing the chasing riders to rejoin.

Sensing hesitation, Rein Taaramäe (Kinan Racing Team), Kyrylo Tsarenko (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini), and Niccolò Garibbo (Team UKYO) launched a move and reached the final climb together.

Rein Taaramäe (Kinan Racing Team) and Kyrylo Tsarenko (Soltec–Vini Fantini) moved to the front on the climb of the final lap.

Taaramäe set a relentless pace, dropping Garibbo and forcing a two-man battle. The peloton had lost all momentum, nearly two minutes behind.
Tsarenko timed his sprint perfectly to take both the stage victory and the overall lead, while Garibbo hung on for third.

Tsarenko claimed victory in the Fukuoka stage, winning the match sprint.

The main group, which had allowed a few riders to break away in the final stages, crossed the finish line 1 minute and 51 seconds behind the leaders. Among them, Yukiya Arashiro finished 14th and claimed the Best Japanese Rider award. Meanwhile, Masanari Masuda, who placed 20th, moved up to 7th overall thanks to the bonus seconds he had earned earlier in the race. Only these two veterans managed to stay with the main group until the end.

TotalEnergies, considered one of the strongest teams in the race, saw Matteo Vercher launch a late attack to finish sixth on the stage. However, hopes for overall victory with Jordan Jegat dimmed slightly.

With the bonus seconds at the finish, overall leader Kyrylo Tsarenko now holds just a 4-second advantage over Rein Taaramäe heading into Stage 2 in Kumamoto–Aso. As the only stage featuring two ascents of a Category 1 climb, major shakeups in the general classification are expected.

Fukuoka Stage Results (Stage 1)

1. Kyrylo Tsarenko (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini) — 2h 49’32”
   
   
2. Rein Taaramäe (Kinan Racing Team) — same time
   
   
3. Niccolò Garibbo (Team UKYO) — +43″
   
   

General Classification (after Stage 1)

1. Kyrylo Tsarenko (SolutionTech–Vini Fantini) — 2h 49’22”
   
   
2. Rein Taaramäe (Kinan Racing Team) — +4″
   
   
3. Niccolò Garibbo (Team UKYO) — +49″
   
   

Leader Comments

Kyrylo Tsarenko – Stage Winner / GC & Points Leader

“We expected this to be a tough stage for the GC, so I’m really happy with how we raced as a team. Around 5 km from the finish, I started to believe I could win. I see myself as a puncheur, but being able to handle any kind of race situation is one of my strengths.”

Gerald Ledesma – Best Young Rider Leader

“It was a hot and demanding day. The WorldTeams and ProTeams set a fast pace, but we managed to stay in the main group, which was great for the team. I’ll keep fighting to defend this jersey in the next stages.”

Kiyoshi Oda – King of the Mountains Leader

“As a Continental team, Matrix sets specific goals for big races like this. We targeted the mountain classification, and since I made it into the break, I stuck with that plan. I achieved the goal, and if I can keep scoring points on tomorrow’s two first-category climbs, the overall KOM title is within reach.”

Yukiya Arashiro – Best Japanese Rider

“It’s not that I was aiming for it—I just gave everything for the team, and this was the result. As long as I can still race, I’ll keep doing it. Every rider wants to achieve the best possible result for their team.

(Regarding the performance of other Japanese riders)

“Many Japanese riders made it into the breakaway today, and I think that’s something people should also pay attention to — it’s what makes road racing even more interesting. There’s so much about this sport that doesn’t show up in the results.”