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Pune Grand Tour Opens as India’s First UCI 2.2 Stage Race

Organisers frame the event as a springboard to Olympic qualification.

Overview

  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the race on January 17, touting rapid UCI-standard infrastructure delivery and a long-term sporting legacy for Pune.
  • The five-day event runs January 19–23 with a 7.5 km prologue at Goodluck Chowk followed by four stages totaling 437 km across Pune district and the Western Ghats.
  • An international peloton of 171 riders from 29 teams representing 35 countries has assembled, with arrivals spanning Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe and Oceania.
  • India fields its largest-ever road contingent with 12 riders across the national and development teams, and UCI points on offer count toward Olympic qualification pathways.
  • Riders and coaches praised the newly repaved routes and organisation, as the district administration claims to have spent hundreds of crores preparing 437 km of race roads.