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Grand Finale of ‘Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026’

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‘Li Ning Star’ Team Wins Under the Leadership of Luke Mudgway

Pune, Jan 2026: Amidst the electric atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds of the ‘Pune Pride Loop’, the spectacular finale of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 took place on Friday. In the Pune stage, Luke Mudgway of the Li Ning Star team clinched victory, while the Li Ning Star team also secured the overall team championship. In the fourth and final stage, Shnayrko Alexei finished first with a time of 1 hour 56 minutes 54 seconds. This five-day event has elevated Pune’s name on the global cycling map.

In the fourth stage, cyclists covered 95 kilometers through the city center, including a 578-meter climb, passing by many historic streets and landmarks such as Shaniwarwada. Over the four stages, cyclists completed a total of 437 kilometers. The Li Ning Star team topped the team rankings with a combined time of 28 hours 41 minutes 19 seconds, with Luke Mudgway’s consistent performance ensuring the team dominated all four stages. Spain’s Burgos BH team (28h 42m 09s) came second, and Malaysia’s Terengganu Cycling Team (28h 48m 19s) finished third. In Friday’s fourth stage, Li Ning Star’s Alexei took the lead, followed by Cameroon’s Nicolas Scott, with Dylan Hopkins of the ‘Roojai Insurance Winspeed’ team finishing third.

At the center of attention was Luke Mudgway, who had already won the first two stages. Competing against 164 elite riders from 35 countries across 29 teams, he completed the race in a total time of 9 hours 33 minutes 04 seconds. His closest competitor, Alan Carter Betts of Thailand’s ‘Roojai Insurance Winspeed’ team, trailed by just 14 seconds, while Jorben Lorissen of Belgium’s ‘Tarteletto-Isorex’ team finished third, 33 seconds behind.

Luke claimed the Yellow Jersey on the first day during the ‘Mulshi-Maval Miles’ stage and retained it until the end. Due to his consistent performance, he also won the Green Jersey for the most points, completing the week with a combination of determination and strategic skill.

Luke on Victory:
After winning the overall title, Luke credited the victory to team effort rather than individual skill. He said, “My team was amazing. They took care of me from start to finish. As you saw over the last two days, our other two riders also won stages. So, with three different riders contributing, this victory is the result of immense effort, excellent teamwork, rigorous practice, and countless hours. This win is for my team.”

He expressed being deeply impressed by the support of Pune’s crowd, adding, “Today was truly amazing. I have never seen such a crowd before. It’s hard to estimate how many people were there, but there were huge crowds along the entire route. Participating in front of everyone was incredible, and I hope everyone enjoyed the race. I definitely look forward to coming back next year.”

International Recognition:
Amina Lanaya, Director General of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said, “This event was a matter of pride for India. In its very first edition, India successfully hosted a world-class race. Our goal is for cycling to achieve a place in the hearts of Indians comparable to cricket.” Since this race awarded ranking points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it held special significance. The successful organization in Pune has marked the beginning of a new era for cycling in India.

Awards and Honours:
The winners were felicitated by actor Aamir Khan, in the presence of Union Minister Rasha Khadse, Higher & Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil, MP Medha Kulkarni, UCI DG Amina Lanaya, Dato Amarjeet Singh Gill (President, Asian Cycling Confederation), Dato Maninder Pal Singh (Secretary General, Cycling Federation of India), Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Chaube, Nawal Kishore Ram, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Bajaj Auto Tax VP Chetan Joshi, and other dignitaries. Aamir Khan congratulated not only the winners but also everyone who made the event successful.