World cycling body praises Pune Grand Tour’s race quality, crowd discipline, and rapid execution; pledges long‑term support for grassroots cycling and urban mobility development in India.
Lake Garda, Italy / Pune, India, June 7: In a historic development for Indian sports, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has pledged its full support to establish the Pune Grand Tour (PGT) as the world’s fourth Grand Tour, joining the elite ranks of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España.
During a special presentation before the UCI Management Committee in Lake Garda, the world cycling body lauded the Pune Grand Tour for its world‑class race quality, crowd discipline, and flawless execution. The inaugural edition, held in January 2026, drew over 2.5 million spectators, setting a new record for any sporting event in India.
UCI President David Lappartient commended the organizing team for delivering a race “comparable to the finest cycling events in the world” and announced UCI’s commitment to assist in urban mobility planning and grassroots cycling development across India. He described the Pune Grand Tour as a “people’s race” and the first genuine opportunity to create a Grand Tour outside Europe.
The UCI also approved the upgrade of the Pune Grand Tour to UCI 2.1 status, a Class 1 stage race classification that allows participation from elite UCI World Teams and offers higher ranking points and prize purses. The 2027 edition is scheduled between January 26 and 31, aligning with India’s national holidays to maximize public participation.
Representing the event’s unique partnership between government, federation, and corporate stakeholders, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh, and Bajaj Auto Director Abhinav Bindra presented the race’s journey and roadmap to the UCI. Dudi highlighted the massive infrastructure effort—400 km of roads upgraded by 1,200 engineers and 10,000 workers—to meet international standards within six months.
Bindra reaffirmed Bajaj Auto’s long‑term commitment to nurturing grassroots cycling and community sports, while Singh outlined India’s strategy to build a strong athlete pipeline aimed at winning cycling medals at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics.
The endorsement marks a turning point for Pune’s emergence as a global cycling destination, with UCI President Lappartient confirming his attendance at the next edition. The Pune Grand Tour’s rapid rise—from concept to international acclaim—underscores India’s growing stature in world cycling.
Official press release by Pune Grand Tour
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