The countdown to the historic Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first UCI 2.2 multi-stage road race, is well underway as Pune welcomes international teams from across Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe and Oceania. The arrival of overseas contingents marks another milestone in the build-up to the race, scheduled from January 19 to 23 across four stages and spanning 437 km through the diverse terrain of Pune district.
With a total of 29 teams from 35 countries, the Pune Grand Tour has generated widespread international appeal in its inaugural edition.
Reflecting the global character of the event, several international teams have arrived in Pune to begin their preparations. They include Sidi Ali Unlock Sports Team from Morocco, which will headline the African presence at the event. The team will be represented by Ahmed Echahed, Alejandro Gainza Rodriguez, Sadki Mohamed, Saad Ait Akbour, Saad M’Hah and Zouhair Rahil, bringing experience from African and international racing circuits to Indian roads.
Also on the ground is 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines, one of Southeast Asia’s most established professional cycling outfits. The Philippine team features Jonel Carcueva, Mervin Corpuz, Daniel Guld, John Patrick Pagtalunan, Ronnilan Quita and Daniel Yon Hin, and has been a consistent presence across major Asian tours.
Adding to the Asian participation is ASC Monsters Indonesia, a team that regularly competes in Asian stage races. The squad includes Muhammad Aflah, Muhammad Hafizh, Syarif Hidayatullah, Julian Abi Manyu, Muhammad Syelhan Nurrahmat and Feri Febi Saputra.
Joining them is Nusantara Cycling Team, another Indonesian outfit that has steadily built its presence on the Asian racing calendar. The team will be represented by Muh Imam Arifin, Maulana Astnan Al Hayat, Muhammad Farrel Alfaridzi, Muhamad Herlangga, Ade Meisa and Ilham Dzikri Ramadhan.
Oceania will be represented by EuroCyclingTrips–CCN, based in Guam and closely linked to international development programmes. The team fields Stefan James Bennett, David Drouin, Gaetan Sebastien Simeon Green, Taj Steven Mueller, Owen Angelo Charles Musset and Jordi Slootjes, bringing diverse international racing experience to the peloton.
Schils Doltcini RT, a team based in Great Britain and a regular participant in international stage races, has also joined the latest wave of arrivals. Their squad includes Eugene Cross, Archie Cross, Matthew John Ellmore, Carl William Jolly, Stevan Kervadec and Charles Frederic Lacaille.
The Mauritius National Team rounded off the arrivals in Pune. Their squad features Lucas Froget, Torea Celestin, Andre Marot, Jean Matombe, Noah Alexis Ong Tone and Jeremy Raboude, adding further depth and diversity to the global peloton.
With international teams now on the ground alongside two Indian squads, the Pune Grand Tour 2026 is set to witness a truly global contest across five days as 171 riders assemble in Pune. As final preparations intensify, the city is gearing up to host a landmark event that will elevate India’s presence on the UCI calendar and showcase the country’s capability to stage world-class professional cycling competitions.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage, five-day continental cycling race for men, marking a watershed moment for India’s presence on the global professional circuit. The gruelling 437-km route passes through the diverse terrains of the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri ranges. The event has attracted an unprecedented field of 171 elite riders from 29 teams representing five continents and 35 countries. Organised by the Pune District Administration, Government of Maharashtra, under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India, the race combines high-performance sporting excellence with a celebration of Pune’s cultural heritage, historic landmarks and rural tourism across nine talukas and 150 villages.
Central to the Pune Grand Tour’s success is a massive infrastructure overhaul, highlighted by rapid road construction and safety upgrades completed in just 75 days. This project is part of a broader district-wide initiative to upgrade road infrastructure to meet stringent UCI guidelines, ensuring top-tier safety and ride quality. By delivering this world-class arena, the Pune Grand Tour not only reclaims the city’s legacy as India’s ‘Cycle Capital’ but also establishes a permanent blueprint for sustainable urban-rural development and positions India as a premier destination for international sports tourism and elite competitive cycling.
Race stages for the Pune Grand Tour 2026:
Jan 19: Prologue (7.5 km) – Goodluck Chowk: Team pole position
Jan 20: Stage 1 – Mulsi-Maval Miles (87.2 km, elevation 828 m): Weaving through Pune’s IT hub Hinjewadi, this opening stage combines flat sprints with sharp urban turns, highlighting landmarks and scenic routes that blend technology with nature.
Jan 21: Stage 2 – Maratha Heritage Circuit (105.3 km, elevation 1,051 m): Cyclists will tackle challenging ghats, facing steep gradients near Purandar Fort, Sinhagad and Khadakwasla Lake, making Day 2 a true test of endurance.
Jan 22: Stage 3 – Western Ghats Gateway (134 km, elevation 1,024 m): Stretching across the Deccan Plateau from Purandar to Baramati, Day 3 favours speed and tactical prowess, with crosswinds and rolling terrain keeping competitors on edge.
Jan 23: Stage 4 – Pune Pride Loop (95 km, elevation 578 m): The final stage winds through Pune’s urban sprawl, passing landmarks such as Shaniwar Wada, and features technical sections leading to a dramatic finish.
–IANS
