Pune Grand Tour 2026 Cycling Race to Boost Sports and Rural Connectivity

The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, India's first UCI 2.2 Category professional multi-stage cycling race, will begin on January 19, covering 437 km across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, including rural tehsils. The five-day event aims to promote Pune as the 'Cycling Capital of India' and a future Olympic host, while serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The race has also prompted significant upgrades to rural roads, improving connectivity for nearly 140 villages and benefiting agriculture, tourism, and local livelihoods.