Pune, 7th October 2026: The Pune Grand Tour has been upgraded from UCI 2.2 to UCI 2.1, marking a significant step forward for the race and Indian road cycling. The upgrade is expected to attract stronger international teams and riders to Pune when the second edition is held from January 26 to 31, 2027.
The development comes soon after Pune was selected to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships at the UCI Congress in Montréal, Canada. The Grand Tour is expected to provide regular international-level racing experience in the years leading up to the world championships.
The move from UCI 2.2 to 2.1 takes the race from Class 2 to Class 1 on the UCI international road racing calendar. This means riders can compete for more UCI ranking points and gives teams a stronger incentive to participate.
The upgrade is also expected to improve the quality of competition and give Indian cyclists more opportunities to race against experienced international riders.
UCI President David Lappartient said the upgrade reflects the progress made by the race. He said the higher classification would help bring stronger international competition to Pune while giving riders, teams, officials and organisers valuable experience at a higher level.
The 2027 edition will start on Republic Day, January 26, and conclude on January 31. The six-stage route will cover different parts of Pune district and feature a mix of urban roads, rural stretches, historic locations and the Western Ghats.
The planned stages will connect:
Mulshi and Hinjewadi
Baramati and Saswad
Junnar and Rajgurunagar
Alandi and Lonavala-Khandala
Lonavala and Hinjewadi
PCMC and Balgandharva Rangmandir
The varied terrain is expected to provide different challenges for riders throughout the six-day competition.
The upgrade follows the successful inaugural edition held in January 2026. The first race featured 29 teams and 171 riders from 35 countries and attracted an estimated 2.5 million spectators along the route.
The response helped establish the Pune Grand Tour as a major addition to India's international cycling calendar.
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi said the UCI 2.1 upgrade was an important milestone for both the Grand Tour and Indian cycling. He said the higher classification would help attract stronger international participation while giving Indian riders greater exposure to international competition.
Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, the first time the premier global road cycling championships will be held in India. The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour is expected to play a role in building the city's cycling infrastructure, organisational experience and international profile before the world championships.
With its upgraded UCI status and expanded six-stage route, the 2027 edition is set to strengthen Pune's position on the international road cycling calendar and build momentum towards the city's 2032 world championship hosting.
