The Pune Grand Tour cycling event has been elevated from UCI 2.2 to UCI 2.1 status, representing a significant advancement for the race and Indian cycling.
This upgrade follows Pune’s award of the 2032 UCI Road World Championships at the UCI Congress in Montréal, Canada, where it was confirmed as the first Indian host of the sport’s premier road championships, according to a press release.
The second edition of the Pune Grand Tour is scheduled to take place from January 26 to 31, 2027. It will feature six stages spanning Pune and the surrounding district. The higher UCI classification is expected to attract stronger international competition and elevate the event’s competitive level.
The promotion to UCI 2.1 follows the successful inaugural edition of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour in January 2026, which included 29 teams and 171 riders from 35 countries. The event attracted approximately 2.5 million spectators along its routes, establishing it as a major addition to India’s international cycling calendar.
Advancement from UCI 2.2 to 2.1 denotes a move from Class 2 to Class 1 on the UCI international road racing calendar. This change offers riders and teams more UCI ranking points and opportunities for increased international participation. It is anticipated to deliver a more competitive field and heightened racing quality across the six stages.
The 2027 race will commence on Republic Day, January 26, and conclude on January 31. Its route will traverse notable landscapes of Pune and Maharashtra, connecting Mulshi and Hinjewadi, Baramati and Saswad, Junnar and Rajgurunagar, Alandi and Lonavala-Khandala, Lonavala and Hinjewadi, as well as PCMC and Balgandharva Rangmandi. The course will combine urban roads, rural areas, historic sites, and challenging sections of the Western Ghats.
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), stated, “The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour is an important platform for the development of road cycling in India. Moving to UCI 2.1 reflects the progress the race has made and will provide an opportunity to bring a stronger level of international competition to Pune. A race of this scale gives riders greater exposure to international racing, while helping teams, officials and organizers gain valuable experience at a higher level. It also allows Pune to showcase its roads, landscapes and cycling culture to a wider international audience as it prepares to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032.”
Jitendra Dudi, District Collector of Pune, said, “The upgrade to UCI 2.1 is an important milestone for the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour and for cycling in India. The first edition showed us the potential of this race and the response it received from riders, teams and people across Pune. We can now take the competition to a higher level, bring stronger international participation to Pune and give Indian riders more opportunities to compete against experienced international cyclists. With Pune set to host the UCI. Road World Championships in 2032, every edition of the Grand Tour will be an important step in building our cycling ecosystem.”
Maninder Pal Singh, Secretary General of the Cycling Federation of India, commented, “The upgrade of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour to UCI 2.1 is a significant milestone for Indian cycling. It reflects the growing stature of the race and the increasing opportunities for Indian riders to compete alongside some of the best cyclists from around the world. With Pune set to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, races such as the Grand Tour will play an important role in building the Competitive experience, organizational capabilities and wider cycling ecosystem needed to prepare for that global event. We look forward to seeing the race grow further and become an important fixture on the international cycling calendar.”
The development of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour coincides with a pivotal period for Indian cycling. Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, marking the first time the event will be held in India. The Grand Tour will serve as a regular international racing platform in the years preceding the championships, aiding in the development of riders, officials, organizers and the cycling ecosystem.
Consequently, the 2027 edition represents a significant evolution of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, combining a higher UCI classification with a demanding six-stage route and increasing international prominence.
As Pune prepares to welcome competitors from January 26 to 31, 2027, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour will advance efforts to establish the city as a destination for international road cycling, building momentum towards the 2032 global event.