Setouchi Shimanami Kaido International Cycling Event “CYCLING Shimanami”

About the Event

Event Features

A massive cycling event featuring a famous expressway and spectacular islands

The only cycling event in Japan that takes place on an expressway

All courses include expressways traveling across the bridges from island to island.Participants are able to cycle on roads that are normally reserved for vehicles and enjoy a sense of freedom as they ride during this cycling event.Cycling Shimanami 2018 is the only cycling event in Japan in which participants can ride on the main roads of an in-use expressway.

International fun riding event using a world-class cycling course

This is an international cycling event that welcomes 7,000 participants from inside and outside of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido, which was selected by CNN as one of the top seven cycling courses in the world. The cycling road, which travels over the splendid Seto Inland Sea featuring many tiny islands floating on a calm ocean, is widely known throughout the world as a “Mecca for cyclists.”

Course features for true enjoyment of the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido

The diverse courses that allow participants to enjoy the wonderful scenery and beautiful natural features of the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido are a major attraction of Cycling Shimanami 2018.Seven courses in accordance with skill level and preference have been prepared.
These include: a long course with a round trip over the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido; a middle course that travels refreshingly through Imabari and Onomichi; a course for fully enjoying scenery in travels throughout various islands; a cruising course that involves a ferry ride together with cycling; and a fun course that can also be enjoyed by beginners and families.

Experience "Omotenashi" Hospitality from the Islanders of Setouchi

Participants will be able to enjoy the natural landscape, including the beauty of the tiny dotted islands, the history and culture of each island, and delicious food produced in the rich nature of the Seto Inland Sea. Besides all of this, they will experience the warm heart of all islanders through the roadside aid stations and spectators on each island.

A massive cycling event featuring a famous expressway and spectacular islands

Overview

Event name：: Setouchi Shimanami Kaido International Cycling Event
Cycling Shimanami 2018
Organizer：: Cycling Shimanami 2018 Executive Committee
Date：: [Check-in] Saturday, October 27, 2018 [Event] Sunday, October 28, 2018
Course：: Setouchi Shimanami Kaido and Surrounding Area / about 30 km～140 km (7 courses)
［Start Venue］In front of the first Shin Imabari Toshi (Nishiseto drive way Imabari IC)
Kurushimakaikyo service area (Imabari), Mukaishima Sports Park (Onomichi)
［Finish Venue］Imabarishintoshi 2nd district (Shimanami Earthland)
Shinhama Kenei Uwaya (Onomichi), Yuge Port (Kamijima)
Application period：: [Premium Entry] Wednesday, April 25 to Thursday, May 31＜first-come-first-served basis＞
(Package of guaranteed participation and local specialties)
[General Entry] Wednesday, April 25 to Thursday, May 31＜lottery＞
How to apply：: Online application etc.
Capacity：: 7,000 people
Style：: Non-competitive public cycling event

Category / Entry Fee

	Distance (Expressway)	Capacity (Premium Entry)	Entry Fee (Premium Entry) (※Elementary and junior high school students)	Bicycle Class	Start & Finish Venue	Number of Aid Stations	Time limit & Course Difficulty
One-way course over Seto Inland Sea from Onomichi —Ride through Shimanami to the south— IMABARI 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇒Imabari (one-way)	about 70km （about 13km）	1,000 people （100 people）	11,000 yen （31,000 yen）	Sport	Mukaishima Sports Park Shimanami Earthland	3	Within 10 hours ※However, after departing the start venue, each 33 km section should be completed within 1 hour 45 minutes. (Average speed of 19km) Distance Difficulty:★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★★★★(Note)
Satisfying middle course —Ride around and past the island— OMISHIMA 110 Imabari⇔Omishima (round trip)	about 110km （about 30km）	1,500 people （150 people）	11,000 yen （31,000 yen）			Imabari IC Shimanami Earthland	4	Within 9 hours Distance Difficulty:★★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★★
Longest course with a round trip over the Seto Inland Sea —Fully enjoy the attractions of Shimanami Kaido— COMPLETE SHIMANAMI 140 Imabari⇔Onomichi (round trip)	about 140km （about 43km）	500 people （50 people）	14,000 yen （34,000 yen）			Imabari IC Shimanami Earthland	7	Within 8.5 hours ※Includes approximately 30 minutes boat travel time Distance Difficulty:★★★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★★★
One-way course over the Seto Inland Sea from Imabari —Ride past Shimanami to the north— ONOMICHI 70 Imabari⇒Onomichi (one-way)	about 70km （about 43km）	1,500 people （150 people）	12,000 yen （32,000 yen）			Imabari IC Shinhama Kenei Uwaya	3	Within 5.5 hours Distance Difficulty:★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★
Middle course over four bridges to cross the prefectural border —Crossing islands, dreaming of islands— IKUCHIJIMA 110 Imabari⇔Ikuchijima (round trip)	about 110km （about 35km）	1,000 people （100 people）	11,000 yen （31,000 yen）			Imabari IC Shimanami Earthland	5	Within 8 hours Distance Difficulty:★★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★★
Course devoted to islands, traveling over eight islands —Traveling over two sea routes – Shimanami and Yumeshima— YUMESHIMA 70 Imabari⇒Kamijima (one-way)	about 70km （about 35km）	500 people （50 people）	11,000 yen （31,000 yen）			Imabari IC Yuge Port ※Yuge→Imabari temporary ferry(for a fee)	3	Within 7 hours ※Includes approximately 30 minutes boat travel time Distance Difficulty:★★★ Speed Difficulty:★★
Fun course that can also be enjoyed by beginners and families —Gazing over scenery from the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge— OSHIMA 30 Imabari⇔Oshima (round trip)	about 30km （about 8km）	1,000 people （N/A）	4,000 yen （※2,000 yen）	Sport City Tandem	Kurushima Kaikyo service area Shimanami Earthland	1	Within 6.5 hours Distance Difficulty:★ Speed Difficulty:★

※In addition to entry fee, entry handling charge is separately necessary. Please note that entry fee is no-refundable in case of cancellation after the entry.
※Applicants for A,B,C,D,E and F are required to provide the estimated time to complete the course by refering to their finish time in the past cycling event.
Please be sure to include break times for each aid station.
※Applicants for G are required to apply for a bicycle type. Please refer to the guidelines from the Official Home Page.
※For tandem bikes(Applicants for G),registration as a pair is required. Entry fee is required for each person.
※Consumption tax, insurance and ferry ticket fees are included in the entry fee.

（Note）
・The general road (~20km) from the starting venue (Mukaijima Sports Park) to the highway (Inoshima IC) is typically traveled at a pace of 17km/h by cyclists. However, there is an elevated slope (3% for about 1.5 km at the Inoshima Ohashi installation road (Mukaishima side), and 9% for ~50m around the area after Shigei Touzaibashi).
・There is the reasonable probability of a traffic jam near the entrance to Inoshima’s highway (7% incline slope for ~600m).
・The average expected speed of cyclists on the highway is 20km/h or faster. However, a 4% slope continues for 5km up till the Ikuchijima Minami IC, and a constant speed is needed in this area.
・Depending on the traffic situation and weather, if cyclists are not able to enter Ikuchijima Minami IC until after 8:25 AM, cyclists may be required to exit the highway at Ikuchijima Minami IC instead of Omishima IC and use the general road course to reach the finish line.

Gate opening time by course/finish line close time (planned)

	Starting Time	Expressway Closing time (subject to change) (Location, Distance from Start)	Closing time (subject to change) (Finish venue)
IMABARI 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇒Imabari (one-way)	6：15〜／35 participants every 1 minutes	8：25 （Ikuchijima minami IC / about 28 km）	17：00 （Shimanami Earthland）
OMISHIMA 110 Imabari⇔Omishima (round trip)	7：35〜／250 participants every 5 minutes	10：30 （Hakatajima IC / about 23 km）	17：00 （Shimanami Earthland）
COMPLETE SHIMANAMI 140 Imabari⇔Onomichi (round trip)	8：05〜／250 participants every 4 minutes	11：05 （Setoda Bus Stop / about 38 km）	17：00 （Shimanami Earthland）
ONOMICHI 70 Imabari⇒Onomichi (one-way)	8：13〜／250 participants every 4 minutes	11：05 （Setoda Bus Stop / about 38 km）	15：00 （Shinhama Kenei Uwaya）
IKUCHIJIMA 110 Imabari⇔Ikuchijima (round trip)	8：37〜／250 participants every 4 minutes	11：10 （Setoda Parking Area / about 34 km）	17：00 （Shimanami Earthland）
YUMESHIMA 70 Imabari⇒Kamijima (one-way)	8：53〜／250 participants every 4 minutes	11：10 （Setoda Parking Area / about 34 km）	16：00 （Yuge Port）
OSHIMA 30 Imabari⇔Oshima (round trip)	9：30〜／25 participants every 1 minutes		17：00 （Shimanami Earthland）

※Participants are expected to travel at a mean speed of 17 km/h through the expressway gate (for course A, approximately 20 km/h on the expressway main road and approximately 17 km/h on general roads).

Participant Eligibility

【All Courses】: ●Participants must judge themselves to be in good health and possessing the ability to complete their selected course within the time limit.Participants acknowledge the “Event Rules” and “Bicycle Class Rules”.
【Course A】: ●For the safety management of the course, participants must check the course map on the official website and have the ability to complete the section of 33 km(Expressway 13 km, General road 20 km) from the start venue(Mukaishima Sports Park) to the exit of Express Way(Omishima IC) within 1 hour and 45 minutes.
【Course ABCDEF】: ●Participants must be in their first year of high school and 15 years of age or older and have completed the same distance of the course to which they are applying in a previous cycling event.
【Course G】: ●Participants must be in the 4th grade of elementary school and 9 years of age or older and able to ride on their own. Children in elementary school or junior high school must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. (Written permission from a parent or guardian will be required in advance.)