Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026: Record-Breaking UCI 2.2 Race to Reclaim Pune’s ‘Cycle Capital’ Crown from Jan 19
PUNE – In a historic bid to reclaim its legendary title as the “Cycle Capital of India,” Pune is set to host the largest-ever field for a UCI 2.2 category race in global cycling history. The inaugural Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, scheduled from January 19 to 23, will see 171 elite cyclists from 35 countries pedalling through the city’s rich heritage and the challenging terrains of the Deccan Plateau.
A Watershed Moment for Indian Cycling
The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 marks India’s debut on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Asia Tour calendar as a Class 2.2 multi-stage race. While typical 2.2 category races feature a peloton of roughly 125 riders, Pune has shattered expectations with a record 171 participants across 29 professional teams.
“This is a moment of pride for Pune,” stated District Collector Jitendra Dudi, the driving force behind the event. “We are not just hosting a race; we are establishing India as a new powerhouse in the professional cycling circuit and showcasing Pune’s scenic and cultural legacy to a global audience.”
437 KM of Heritage and Grit: The Race Route
The tour is strategically designed to blend elite sport with “Indology,” using the live global broadcast to narrate the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha Empire.
- Jan 19 | Prologue (8.0 km): A high-speed sprint starting at Goodluck Chowk, Deccan Gymkhana, cutting through the heart of the city.
- Jan 20 | Stage 1 (87.2 km): “Mulshi-Maval Miles” takes the peloton from the Hinjewadi IT hub through scenic grasslands to Akurdi.
- Jan 21 | Stage 2 (105.3 km): The “Maratha Heritage Circuit” features a grueling 1,466m elevation gain, testing riders against the backdrop of Purandar Fort, Sinhagad, and Khadakwasla Lake.
- Jan 22 | Stage 3 (134 km): The “Western Ghats Gateway” is the longest leg, stretching from Saswad to Baramati across the windswept Deccan plateau.
- Jan 23 | Stage 4 (95 km): The “Pune Pride Loop” concludes at Balgandharva Rangmandir on JM Road, passing iconic landmarks like Shaniwar Wada and Fergusson College.
The Road to LA 2028 Olympics
Beyond the glory, the race serves as a vital qualification pathway for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics. An Indian National Team consisting of six riders—including Sahil Kumar, Naveen John, and local hero Surya Thathu—will compete as wild card entries against world-class squads from France, the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Infrastructure Overhaul and AQI Measures
To meet stringent UCI standards, the Pune District Administration spearheaded a massive ₹500 crore infrastructure project. Over 400 km of roads across nine tehsils have been upgraded with a “roughness index” of 2.5 to ensure cyclist safety.
Addressing concerns over the city’s current Air Quality Index (AQI), Collector Dudi hinted at temporary measures, including a potential pause on construction activities along the race route, to ensure optimal conditions for the international athletes.
Traffic Advisory for Pune Citizens
With the race winding through major urban arteries like JM Road, University Road, and the Hinjewadi-PCMC corridor, the traffic police have announced rolling closures. Citizens are advised to check the official Pune Grand Tour 2026 website for real-time diversions between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM on race days.
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Jayant Mahajan works where Management, technology, and sustainability meet, usually right before things get complicated. With industry experience in business management and digital transformation, he brings real-world messiness into the classroom (on purpose). As an educator, he designs future-ready curricula around data thinking, governance, and ethics, because technology without judgment scales mistakes faster. Through his Change Before Climate Change mission, Jayant helps institutions act early by fixing skills and incentives, so climate action becomes good management, not emergency management. Bridging policy, practice, and purpose, one syllabus at a time.
