Pune, September 24: Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, the first time cycling’s road world championships will be held in India.
The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montréal, Canada, after Pune made its final presentation to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The bid was a joint effort by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), with support from the Government of India.
Two-city race with Groningen/Drenthe
The contest came down to Pune and Groningen/Drenthe in the Netherlands after bids from Colombia and Mexico dropped out. Both finalists presented in Montréal during the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, before the vote at the Congress.
A three-member UCI inspection team visited Pune from September 4 to 6. It looked at proposed venues and race infrastructure, including the Balewadi Sports Complex and a circuit around Savitribai Phule Pune University, along with hotels and start and finish areas.
The bid was presented by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi and CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh. The Maharashtra delegation in Montréal also included Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary, School Education and Sports; Deepak Singla, Commissioner, Sports and Youth Services; and Rajesh Deshmukh, Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister. Onkar Singh, former Secretary General of the Asian Cycling Confederation, was also part of the group.
Built on the Pune Grand Tour
Pune’s case rested heavily on the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, a UCI 2.2 stage race. According to the organisers, the 2026 edition needed coordination across more than 25 government departments and used 437 km of race-ready roads. The routes were shown to the UCI delegation using the actual race convoy.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “The report on the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour presented to the UCI Management Committee by the delegation led by Pune District Collector Mr Jitendra Dudi is extremely encouraging. Cycling continues to develop in new territories where it has the potential to become a leading sport. India is a country where our sport has a bright future, thanks to the commitment and enthusiasm of key stakeholders.”
What it means for Indian cycling
The 2025 championships in Kigali, Rwanda, had 734 riders from 113 countries. The Pune bid projects up to 2.5 million spectators.
Before Pune, the championships go to Haute-Savoie, France (2027, as part of the UCI Cycling World Championships), Abu Dhabi (2028), Denmark (2029), Brussels (2030) and Trentino, Italy (2031).
“For Indian cycling, this is an opportunity to move from participation to performance and from hosting international races to becoming a part of cycling’s global conversation,” Maninder Pal Singh said. “The years leading to 2032 will be about creating stronger pathways for our athletes, coaches and technical officials.”
Dudi called it “a defining moment for Pune” and said the event would place the city “on one of international cycling’s most visible annual stages”.
The organisers have linked the event to India’s wider plan to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games under the National Sports Policy 2025. Plans for the next six years include women’s and youth cycling, coaching and certification in line with UCI standards, and annual growth of the Pune Grand Tour.
