Can Pune Host the 2032 Road World Championships? UCI Team Conducts City Recce
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 9th September 2026: A three-member delegation of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), accompanied by senior officials of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), conducted a three-day recce of Pune from September 4 to 6 as part of the city’s candidature to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032.
The delegation assessed proposed race infrastructure, competition venues, start and finish points, race routes, accommodation, spectator management, technical requirements and operational preparedness for hosting the global cycling event.
The UCI delegation comprised Peter Van den Abeele, UCI Sports Director; Matthew Knight, UCI Strategic Sports Manager; and Guillaume Romeyer, UCI World Championships Awards and Projects Coordinator.
The CFI team included Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh, CEO Pravin Patil, Technical Director Ajit Singh, High Performance Director Dharmendra Lamba, Manager–International Relations Vinay Kumar Singh, Technical Expert M K Pasha and Senior Executive Akansha Dahat.
During the recce, the delegation visited the Balewadi Sports Complex and inspected proposed start and finish locations for various championship events. The team also visited Savitribai Phule Pune University and reviewed its campus and surrounding areas in connection with route planning and championship operations.
The delegation also assessed hospitality infrastructure at JW Marriott Pune, The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, and other hotels proposed as official accommodation and event venues.
A dinner was hosted for the UCI delegation by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar in the presence of CFI and Pune district administration officials.
The delegation was also given an operational overview of the Pune Grand Tour. Race routes developed and used during its inaugural season were demonstrated using the actual race convoy and operational setup.
“The visit of the UCI officials has generated considerable excitement across Maharashtra as we prepare to present Pune’s candidature on the global stage. The experience gained through the Pune Grand Tour, along with the state’s infrastructure and administrative preparedness, gives us confidence as we take this bid forward. We are looking forward to presenting Maharashtra’s vision for the 2032 championships in Montreal, Canada, on September 22,” said Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi.
The Pune Grand Tour and the infrastructure and institutional coordination developed around it were also presented as part of the preparations for hosting the larger-scale UCI Road World Championships.
A high-level Maharashtra delegation will travel to Montreal, Canada, this month for the official bid presentation on September 22. The delegation will comprise Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi; Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary, School Education and Sports Department; Deepak Singla, Commissioner, Sports and Youth Services; and Rajesh Deshmukh, Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister.
The delegation will present Pune’s proposed infrastructure, organisational capabilities, operational preparedness and the Maharashtra government’s support for hosting the UCI Road World Championships.
The host city and country for the 2032 UCI Road World Championships are expected to be announced during the UCI Congress on September 23.
Maharashtra’s candidature seeks to position Pune as an international cycling destination while strengthening India’s cycling ecosystem and creating a long-term sporting and economic legacy for the region.
