Pune Grand Tour Gets Major UCI Upgrade; Six-Stage Race Set for January 2027
Pune, 7th October 2026: The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour has been upgraded from UCI 2.2 to UCI 2.1, with its second edition scheduled to be held across Pune and Pune district from January 26 to 31, 2027.
The six-stage road cycling event is expected to attract stronger international teams and riders following the upgrade, giving Indian cyclists more opportunities to compete against experienced international riders.
The upgrade assumes added significance after Pune was selected to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships. According to the UCI, the 2032 championships will be held in India for the first time, with Pune chosen as the host city.
The inaugural Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, held in January 2026, featured 29 teams and 171 cyclists from 35 countries. Around 2.5 million spectators were estimated to have turned out along the race route to support the riders.
The move from UCI 2.2 to 2.1 places the event in Class 1 of the international Class 2 road racing calendar, providing riders and teams with an opportunity to earn more UCI ranking points. The organisers expect the higher classification to help attract stronger international participation and raise the competitive level of the race.
The 2027 edition will begin on Republic Day, January 26, and conclude on January 31. The six stages will cover different parts of Pune district:
Stage 1: Mulshi to Hinjawadi
Stage 2: Baramati to Saswad
Stage 3: Junnar to Rajgurunagar
Stage 4: Alandi to Lonavala-Khandala
Stage 5: Lonavala-Khandala to Hinjawadi
Stage 6: Pimpri-Chinchwad to Balgandharva Rangmandir
The routes will pass through urban roads, rural areas, historical locations, hilly terrain and challenging sections of the Western Ghats. The varied terrain is expected to test riders’ speed, endurance and technical skills.
UCI President David Lappartient said the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour provided an important platform for the development of road cycling in India. He said the upgrade to UCI 2.1 reflected the progress made by the event and would create an opportunity to bring stronger international competition to Pune.
Lappartient also said the event would give cyclists greater international racing experience while providing teams, officials and organisers with experience of operating at a higher level. With Pune preparing to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships, he said the Grand Tour would also provide an opportunity to showcase the city’s roads, terrain and cycling culture to an international audience.
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi described the UCI 2.1 classification as an important milestone for the event and Indian cycling. He said the inaugural edition had demonstrated the potential of the race and the response from cyclists, teams and citizens in Pune.
According to Dudi, the upgraded classification would help increase international participation and provide Indian cyclists with more opportunities to compete against experienced riders.
Maninder Pal Singh, secretary general of the Cycling Federation of India, said the upgrade was an important achievement for Indian cycling. He said it would create more opportunities for Indian cyclists to compete against experienced and high-level international riders.
With Pune set to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships, events such as the Grand Tour are also expected to provide experience to cyclists, coaches, technical officials, organisers and other stakeholders involved in international-level cycling events.
The 2027 edition, with its upgraded UCI 2.1 classification, six-stage format and varied routes across Pune district, is expected to further strengthen the city’s position on the international road cycling calendar.
