The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is set to commence in Pune on Monday. This event marks India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage, five-day Continental Cycling Road Race for men. The race will take place from January 19 to 23. With this event, India makes its debut on the global professional cycling calendar.
A total of 171 elite riders from 29 teams across 35 countries will participate in the challenging 437-km route, which traverses the diverse terrains of the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Range, passing through nine talukas and 150 villages. Bajaj Auto is the title sponsor, while the Serum Institute of India serves as the associate sponsor. Persistent Systems, Kirloskar Systems, and AU Small Finance Bank are supporting the event as co-sponsors. Other corporate sponsors include Chitale Bandhu, Panchshil Realty, Kotak Mahindra, 10 Sports, and Ruby Hall Clinic.
The Grand Tour has been organised by the Pune District Administration, the Government of Maharashtra, and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI). Jitendra Dudi, Collector of Pune District and In-charge of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, stated that the tour will permanently establish Pune and India on the UCI cycling calendar. He said that this is a collaborative effort that brings together the best international and homegrown Indian riders.
Road to LA 2028
The event has received a sponsorship of ₹35 crore, and the district administration has spent approximately ₹422 crore to prepare the roads for the race.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis officially declared the event open. He highlighted that 437 km of race-ready roads have been developed along with safety systems, logistics, and a complete cycling ecosystem that meets UCI standards, all completed in record time. “Pune, a district where history meets the future, will now be recognised globally as a destination for world-class sport, tourism, and culture,” Fadnavis said. He noted that this event not only reclaims Pune’s legacy as India’s Cycling Capital but also positions India as a premier destination for international sports tourism and elite competitive cycling.
Maninder Pal Singh, Secretary General of CFI, remarked that securing a UCI 2.2 multi-stage race was a challenging and defining moment for Indian cycling. He believes it will change how governments, sponsors, and stakeholders across the country view the sport. For Indian cyclists, this opportunity serves as crucial preparation for Olympic goals, allowing them to accumulate points for qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games. Singh added that the more races India hosts, the more the sport will grow domestically and aid in developing Indian riders. “Securing this race reflects years of consistent work by the CFI to build credibility on an international level,” he stated.
The 7.5 km Prologue race will kick off on January 19. STAGE 1 will cover 87.2 km with an elevation gain of 828 meters from Mulshi to Maval on January 20. STAGE 2 on January 21 will feature the Maratha Heritage Circuit, spanning 105.3 km with an elevation of 1,051 meters. Cyclists will face challenging ascents at Purandar Fort, Sinhagad, and Khadakwasla Lake on this endurance-testing day. STAGE 3, set for January 22, will encompass 134 km with an elevation of 1,024 meters, stretching across the Deccan plateau from Purandar to Baramati. The final STAGE 4 will be the Pune Pride Loop, covering 95 km with a 578-meter elevation, winding through the urban areas of Pune.
Elite Contenders
Leading the international contingent will be Spain’s Pro Team Burgos-BH, ranked 27th in the world’s UCI ranking and the highest-ranked team in the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026. They will be followed by China’s Li Ning Star (ranked 36th) and Malaysia’s Terengganu Cycling Team (ranked 37th). The Indian challenge will be led by the country’s most decorated cyclist, Naveen John.
The teams participating in the event include the Philippines’ 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike, Indonesia’s ASC Monsters, Greece’s Burgos Burpellet BH, CT Vassil-Levski from Bulgaria, EuroCyclingTrips CCN from France, Grant Thornton Cycling Team from Thailand, Hucare Factory Team from Germany, Li Ning Star from New Zealand, Pro Cycling Malaysia, Nusantara Cycling Team from Indonesia, Nex Velofit from Australia, ProCyclingStats.com from Andorra, Quick Pro Team from Estonia, Roojai Insurance Winspace from Australia, Schils Doltcini RT from Great Britain, Sélection Nationale Team France Défense, Tarteletto Isorex from Belgium, Terengganu Cycling Team from Malaysia, Universe Cycling Team from the Netherlands, Victoria Sports Pro Cycling from Spain, and Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam from the Netherlands.
Additionally, the national teams of India, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and Mauritius will participate, along with an India Development Team. For the first time, India will field its largest contingent of 12 riders in a UCI-accredited road race. Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is supporting the tour as a Goodwill Ambassador.
Jio Star and Warner Bros. Discovery have been onboarded as the official broadcast partners for India and Europe, providing live coverage in 80 territories. In India, live coverage will be available on Star Sports and JioHotstar. The world feed will be live-streamed on HBO Max and Discovery+ across Europe, broadcast in 20 languages on Eurosport, reaching 50 million households.
The live English commentary for the Tour will be hosted by renowned television presenter Ned Boulting, who has reported on every Tour de France since 2003. He will be joined by former professional cyclist Graham Jones, a five-time Tour de France rider, and former Indian cyclist Abhijit Sett.