The six riders featured here are the international athletes selected by the UCI and JKA for Japan's 2026 keirin circuit, following the formal return of international riders under a renewed agreement between the two organisations.
Their inclusion gives the 2026 series an unusual international edge, bringing Olympic medallists, world champions and established track sprinters into one of cycling's most distinctive and tightly structured racing environments.
Matthew Richardson
Age: 26
Country: Great Britain
Best keirin results: Olympic silver medallist in Paris 2024, and European keirin champion in 2026.
Social: Instagram - @matty__richo
Ellesse Andrews
Age: 26
Country: New Zealand
Best keirin results: Olympic champion in Paris 2024, Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo, and 2023 world keirin champion.
Social: Instagram - @ellesseandrews
Harrie Lavreysen
Age: 29
Country: Netherlands
Best keirin results: Olympic champion in Paris 2024 and four-time world keirin champion.
Social: Instagram - @harrielavreysen
Hetty van de Wouw
Age: 27
Country: Netherlands
Best keirin results: Olympic silver medallist in Paris 2024 and world silver medallist in the keirin in 2024.
Social: Instagram - @hettyvandewouw
Joseph Truman
Age: 29
Country: Great Britain
Best keirin results: British national keirin champion in 2020, plus previous Japanese keirin experience across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 JKA seasons.
Social: Instagram - @joetruman1
Mathilde Gros
Age: 26
Country: France
Best keirin results: Former European keirin champion and 2026 European keirin silver medallist.
Social: Instagram - @gros__mathilde
