Pune Grand Tour 2027 to Cover 1,099 km Across Six Stages After International Status Upgrade

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 12th June 2026: Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar has called for the formation of a dedicated Governing Council to steer the planning and execution of future editions of the Pune Grand Tour, as the state prepares for an expanded and more ambitious second edition of the international cycling event.

Chairing a review meeting at the Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Pawar said the successful conduct of the inaugural Pune Grand Tour had demonstrated Maharashtra’s ability to host sporting events of international standards despite limited preparation time. She urged all departments and stakeholders to work in close coordination to raise the competition’s stature and establish new benchmarks in the years ahead.

“The objective of the Pune Grand Tour 2027 is not merely to recreate last year’s event. We must take the competition to greater heights in terms of scale, quality, reach and impact. The experience gained from the first edition should serve as the foundation for building an internationally recognised sporting event that reflects Pune’s capabilities and aspirations,” she said.

The review meeting was attended by Pune Zilla Parishad President Veerdhaval Jagdale, MLA Shankar Mandekar, Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi, PMRDA Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhari, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Commissioner of Sports and Youth Services Deepak Singla, PMRDA Additional Commissioner Manjulakshmi K., Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, Zilla Parishad CEO Gajanan Patil, and Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh, who joined the meeting virtually.

Vision Behind the Pune Grand Tour

Pawar noted that the inaugural edition had succeeded in taking the excitement of the event beyond Pune city and into rural areas, bringing people from all sections of society together.

She credited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for supporting the initiative and said the original vision for the Pune Grand Tour had been conceived by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

“The dream was to transform Pune from being known solely as an educational, industrial and cultural hub into a destination capable of hosting world-class sporting events. The initiative was also aimed at creating opportunities for Maharashtra’s youth to participate in a discipline like cycling and at placing Pune firmly on the international sports map,” she said.

Governing Council and Organising Committee Proposed

To ensure better coordination and accountability, Pawar directed officials to establish a Governing Council comprising representatives of the State Government, local self-government bodies, civic institutions and the Cycling Federation of India.

She said the council should function as the highest decision-making and monitoring body for the Pune Grand Tour and conduct monthly review meetings to assess preparations and address emerging challenges.

In addition, she proposed the formation of a dedicated Organising Committee with clearly defined responsibilities, authority and accountability for every department and official involved in the event.

No Funding Constraints

The Deputy Chief Minister assured stakeholders that the State Government would not allow a shortage of funds to hinder preparations for the competition.

However, she emphasised that the expanded scale of the upcoming edition would require financial participation from municipal corporations and other government agencies.

“There will be no shortage of financial support from the State Government. At the same time, considering the expanded nature of the event, all local bodies and related agencies should contribute towards ensuring its success,” she said.

Sustainability and Cleanliness in Focus

Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility during the event.

She suggested that villages situated along the race route should undertake cleanliness initiatives as part of a collective social responsibility effort. Pilot projects focusing on solid waste management and waste compaction could be introduced, allowing waste to be transported efficiently to nearby urban processing centres.

She also proposed the use of bamboo-based products under eco-tourism initiatives to make the event more environmentally sustainable.

Traffic Management and Public Participation

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said the police department had received adequate logistical support during the previous edition, enabling smooth management of the event.

He expressed confidence that public participation would increase significantly this year and noted that traffic regulation would be comparatively easier as the final stage of the competition would be held on a public holiday.

Municipal Commissioners Naval Kishore Ram and Dr Vijay Suryawanshi also shared suggestions regarding civic coordination and infrastructure support.

UCI Upgrades Pune Grand Tour Status

District Collector Jitendra Dudi presented a detailed overview of the event and highlighted the achievement of organising an international-standard race within a short preparation period.

He said the event had successfully showcased Pune district’s forts, heritage structures and tourist destinations to a global audience.

As recognition of the event’s safe and professional execution, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has upgraded the Pune Grand Tour from UCI Category 2.2 to UCI Category 2.1, enhancing its international standing and attracting stronger competition.

The upcoming edition will expand from four stages to six stages, covering a total distance of 1,099 kilometres, making it one of India’s most significant cycling events.

Agencies Felicitated

During the meeting, representatives of various implementing agencies involved in the successful execution of the inaugural Pune Grand Tour were felicitated for their contribution and commitment.