The Pune Grand Tour has been upgraded from UCI 2.2 to UCI 2.1, with the six-stage road cycling event scheduled across Pune and Pune district from January 26 to 31, 2027. The higher classification is expected to attract stronger international teams and give Indian cyclists more opportunities to compete against experienced riders on urban, rural and hilly routes.
The upgrade places the race in Class 1 of the international Class 2 road racing calendar and allows participating riders and teams to earn more UCI ranking points. Organisers expect the change to raise the competitive level of the event, which will hold its second edition less than a year after its inaugural race in January 2026.
The 2027 edition will begin on Republic Day and conclude on January 31. Its six stages will connect different parts of the district, beginning with a route from Mulshi to Hinjawadi, followed by stages from Baramati to Saswad and Junnar to Rajgurunagar. The remaining stages will run from Alandi to Lonavala-Khandala, Lonavala-Khandala to Hinjawadi, and Pimpri-Chinchwad to Balgandharva Rangmandir.
The routes are planned across urban roads, rural stretches, historical locations, hilly terrain and challenging sections of the Western Ghats. The varied geography is intended to test riders’ speed, endurance and technical skills while placing Pune’s road network and surrounding landscape before an international cycling audience.
The upgrade assumes added significance because Pune has been selected to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships. According to the report, the championships will be held in India for the first time, making the Grand Tour an early opportunity to develop experience among cyclists, organisers, officials and other stakeholders involved in international road racing.
UCI President David Lappartient said the Grand Tour had created an important platform for the development of road cycling in India. He said the move to UCI 2.1 reflected progress made by the event and would help bring stronger international competition to Pune. He also said the race would provide teams, officials and organisers with experience of operating at a higher level ahead of the city’s World Championships responsibilities.
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi described the classification as an important milestone for the event and Indian cycling. He said the inaugural edition had demonstrated the race’s potential through the response from cyclists, teams and citizens. Cycling Federation of India secretary general Maninder Pal Singh said the upgrade would create more opportunities for Indian riders to compete against high-level international cyclists.
The first Pune Grand Tour featured 29 teams and 171 cyclists from 35 countries. Around 2.5 million spectators were estimated to have watched the riders along the route. The 2027 event will now extend the race across six stages and a wider mix of Pune district’s urban and regional landscapes, with the organisers presenting it as part of the city’s preparation for the 2032 international championships.
