“Pune Grand Challenge Tour–2026” Must Be Successfully Organized Through Coordination – Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Pune : India is set to host an international-level cycling competition for the first time with the “Pune Grand Challenge Tour–2026” scheduled for January. To ensure the success of this event, Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has directed all departments to coordinate and expedite preparations. He expressed confidence that this prestigious event will place Pune city and district on the global tourism map.

Ajit Pawar issued these directives during a review meeting held in context of the upcoming event. The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Sports Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale, PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Pimpri-Chinchwad Joint Police Commissioner Shashikant Mahavarkar, ZP CEO Gajanan Patil, Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill, and Cycling Federation of India (CFI) Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh, among others.

The Deputy CM emphasized that all necessary work — including road repairs, route cleanliness, and provision of medical facilities — should be prioritized. He instructed the administration to review the progress regularly and report updates, so any shortcomings can be addressed promptly.

Divisional Commissioner Dr. Pulkundwar said full preparations should be made to ensure the safety of all cyclists and their support teams. The competition route must be surveyed, and necessary repairs should be completed.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar added that, in light of the competition route passing through most of the city, work on road repairs, pothole filling, and speed breakers should be done on priority. He also urged timely coordination for traffic diversions and barricading to ensure smooth execution.

District Collector Jitendra Dudi gave a presentation on the event. He stated that the international cycling competition will boost Pune’s global tourism and sports identity. A proposal for official recognition has already been sent to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in Switzerland, and approval is expected soon. The race will be jointly organized by UCI and CFI and will serve as a qualifier for the upcoming Olympics.

The route has been jointly surveyed and assessed by municipal commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the ZP CEO, the District Collector, and various departments. The CFI has finalized a preliminary route, which will be refined further through consultations. The roads will be prepared as per international cycling race standards.

The competition will be conducted in four stages, covering Pune City, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maval, Mulshi, Bhor, Velhe, Purandar, and Baramati. The organizers are aiming for extensive pre-event publicity and live telecasts in 25 countries during the event. The event is expected to significantly boost tourism and sports culture in Pune district.

CFI Secretary Maninder Pal Singh said efforts are underway to attract cyclists from about 50 countries, and 40 Indian cyclists will participate, including 10 from Maharashtra. He suggested that one of the event days be declared “National Cycling Day”, as India currently lacks an official day to promote the sport, unlike the World Cycling Day celebrated globally.

Sports Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale informed the gathering that a proposal worth ₹35 crore has been submitted to build a velodrome at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, so that aspiring cyclists inspired by the event can train professionally. Deputy CM Pawar immediately approved funding for the project.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Atul Chavan, officials from the Cycling Association of Maharashtra, Pune Municipal Corporation, Health Department, and several other departmental representatives.