Cycling: Velodrome Worth Rs 35 Crore Proposed Ahead of Pune Grand Challenge Tour-2026
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 20th July 2025: Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has directed all departments to begin coordinated and time-bound preparations for the upcoming ‘Pune Grand Challenge Tour-2026’, an international cycling event scheduled for January next year. He expressed confidence that the mega event will place Pune district firmly on the global tourism and sports map.
Pawar was speaking at a high-level review meeting held to assess the early-stage planning and logistics of the competition. Senior officials including Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase, and Sports Director Sheetal Teli-Ugle were present, along with officials from the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) and local administration.
“This competition will be a milestone event for Pune. Focus must be placed on road readiness, cleanliness, safety, and medical arrangements. Regular reviews must be held, and errors rectified promptly,” said Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
The race, which is proposed as a qualifying event for the upcoming Olympics, is expected to attract cyclists from nearly 50 countries. A proposal for international recognition has been submitted to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Switzerland. The race will be jointly organized by UCI and CFI.
Four-Stage International Event Across Pune District
The competition route has been jointly inspected by officials from Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations, the Zilla Parishad, and the district administration, in coordination with CFI. It will be conducted in four stages, covering urban and rural landscapes:
- Pune City and Pimpri Chinchwad
- Maval, Mulshi, and Pimpri Chinchwad
- Bhor, Velhe, Mulshi, and Pune City
- Purandar and Baramati
Authorities plan to promote the event aggressively, with live broadcasts in 25 countries. The organizers hope the event will give a significant boost to Pune’s tourism and sports culture.
Infrastructure, Safety, and Legacy Plans
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar emphasized the need for prompt road repairs, pothole filling, and installation of safe speed breakers across the race route. “Traffic planning, diversions, and barricading will be handled well in advance,” he assured.
Dr. Pulkundwar added that the safety of all cyclists and accompanying staff must be ensured through continuous route monitoring and timely updates.
Highlighting long-term impact, Sports Director Sheetal Teli-Ugle proposed the construction of a ₹35 crore velodrome at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex to nurture young talent inspired by the competition. Pawar assured that funds for the velodrome would be sanctioned immediately.
Push for ‘National Bicycle Day’
CFI General Secretary Maninder Pal Singh proposed declaring one day of the event as ‘National Bicycle Day’ to promote cycling culture across India. He added that 40 Indian cyclists, including 10 from Maharashtra, would get a chance to compete alongside international participants.
The meeting concluded with a pledge from all stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of the event, which could become a benchmark for India’s international sports infrastructure.
