Pune unveils India’s first UCI cycling race promoting sustainable mobility
Pune is gearing up to pedal its way towards cleaner air, healthier lifestyles, and a more sustainable urban future. In a strong push for cycling as a climate-conscious transport mode, the state leadership unveiled the official logo and mascot for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 multi-stage cycling race, on Wednesday, describing bicycles as the city’s next big step in tackling pollution, traffic congestion and lifestyle-related diseases.
The event marks a defining moment for Pune’s transition towards eco-mobility. Officials emphasised that cycling represents not just a sport, but a lifestyle reform that can dramatically improve the city’s air quality, reduce vehicular emissions and lower dependency on fossil-fuel-driven transport. They said that Western nations have long demonstrated how bicycle-first policies can transform urban spaces, making roads safer, cleaner, and more equitable for all users.
The Pune Grand Tour, modelled on the Tour de France, will take place from January 19 to 23, 2026, spanning 437 kilometres across the district through four competitive stages. The event will see 186 cyclists from around 25 countries participating, placing Pune firmly on the global cycling map. A rehearsal national race is scheduled for December 28, to test the race infrastructure and road readiness.The race route will weave through historic and cultural landmarks to promote tourism and highlight the city’s heritage. The mascot ‘Indu’, an Indian Giant Squirrel, Maharashtra’s state animal symbolises balance with nature, echoing the race’s commitment to harmony between environment, sport, and sustainable living.
Senior government officials called upon the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, PMRDA and PWD to ensure that 437 kilometres of race-standard roads are completed within strict deadlines, stressing that the event should reflect the city’s efficiency and world-class infrastructure capabilities. Authorities assured that even with extended monsoon challenges, all required work would be delivered on schedule.
Urban transport experts noted that Pune’s renewed focus on cycling could pave the way for integrating bicycles with public transport systems such as the metro, creating an inclusive and carbon-neutral mobility model. Encouraging citizens to cycle for short-distance travel, they added, would also reduce healthcare burdens linked to sedentary lifestyles and pollution exposure.As India’s first international multi-stage cycling event approaches, Pune is not only preparing to host a global sporting spectacle but is also redefining its identity as a clean, sustainable, and human-centric city. For a metropolis once synonymous with rising traffic and smog, the shift towards pedal power could well become its most powerful statement in urban resilience.
