Pune is set to step firmly onto the global sporting map as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage road race, announces an expansive international broadcast partnership with JioStar and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The landmark collaboration ensures live coverage of the five-day race across more than 80 territories, underlining the event’s ambition to establish India as a serious presence on the professional cycling calendar.
Scheduled to begin on January 19, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour will feature 28 teams and a diverse international peloton racing across a demanding 437-kilometre route through the Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range. Riders from Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa will contest the inaugural edition, blending elite sporting competition with the cultural and geographic diversity of the Pune district.
The scale of the broadcast agreement reflects the organisers’ intent to deliver world-class visibility from the very first edition. In India, fans will be able to follow the action live on Star Sports and JioHotstar, ensuring comprehensive coverage across television and digital platforms. Across Europe and several other international markets, the world feed will be live streamed on HBO Max and Discovery+, while cycling fans globally will also have access to the live stream through the official Pune Grand Tour digital platform.
In addition to live coverage, highlight packages will be carried by Eurosport and Eurosport Asia, bringing the race to more than 150 million households. Broadcast in up to 20 languages, these highlights will significantly expand the Tour’s reach, positioning Pune alongside established cycling destinations in the global consciousness.
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The international flavour of the broadcast is matched by a high-profile commentary team. Renowned presenter Ned Boulting, a familiar voice to cycling audiences worldwide after covering every Tour de France since 2003, will anchor the English commentary. He will be joined by former professional cyclist Graham Jones, a five-time Tour de France rider, and former Indian cyclist Abhijit Sett. Together, the trio bring a blend of global insight, professional racing experience, and local perspective to India’s first UCI-approved multi-stage race.
Mr. Jitendra Dudi, IAS, Collector of Pune District and In-charge of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, highlighted the broader significance of the announcement. “We are extremely delighted to bring the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour to a global audience and establish Pune and India permanently on the UCI cycling calendar,” he said. “This event is a collaborative effort between the Pune District Administration, the Government of Maharashtra, and the Cycling Federation of India. It brings together the best of international talent and home-grown Indian riders, and we are confident that sports fans across the world will enjoy watching India’s arrival on the global cycling stage.”
The broadcast expansion comes just days after the organisers announced former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Goodwill Ambassador for the event, adding further visibility and mainstream appeal to the Tour. Together, these moves signal a carefully planned strategy to position the Pune Grand Tour as both a sporting spectacle and a long-term platform for cycling development in India.
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From a sporting perspective, the race is designed to challenge riders across multiple dimensions. The opening day features a 7.5-kilometre prologue at Goodluck Chowk, an individual time trial that will determine early general classification standings. Stage 1, the Mulshi–Maval Miles, covers 87.2 kilometres through Pune’s IT corridor of Hinjewadi, combining fast sections with technical urban turns. Stage 2, the Maratha Heritage Circuit, stretches 105.3 kilometres and includes demanding climbs around Purandar Fort, Sinhagad, and Khadakwasla Lake, making it a decisive endurance test.
Stage 3, the Western Ghats Gateway, is the longest at 134 kilometres, traversing rolling terrain from Purandar to Baramati, where crosswinds and race tactics are expected to play a crucial role. The Tour concludes with the Pune Pride Loop, a 95-kilometre urban circuit that blends modern cityscapes with historic landmarks such as Shaniwar Wada, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
Beyond competition and broadcast, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour represents a major infrastructure achievement. Roads across the district have undergone rapid upgrades in just 75 days to meet stringent UCI safety and quality standards. This investment forms part of a broader initiative aimed at long-term urban and rural development, reinforcing Pune’s historic identity as India’s “Cycle Capital” while laying a sustainable foundation for future international sporting events.
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With live coverage spanning 80-plus territories and more than 72 hours of streaming, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is positioned as more than a debut race.
It is a statement of intent showcasing India’s readiness to host elite global sport, celebrate regional heritage, and carve a lasting place in the world of professional cycling.
