The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 continued to live up to its reputation as one of the most demanding stage races on the Asian calendar as Stage Two unfolded across the rugged and historic Maratha Heritage Circuit on Tuesday.
Stretching 105.3 kilometres through the heart of Pune district, the route took the peloton across a landscape carved by forts, sharp climbs, and unforgiving descents, testing not only physical endurance but also tactical discipline and teamwork.
Starting from the Ladies Club in Camp at 12:30 pm and finishing along Sinhagad Road at Nanded City, the stage was designed to punish any lapse in concentration. Under a blazing January sun and over relentless undulations, the riders were forced into survival mode long before the final kilometres. When the dust finally settled, it was once again Luke Mudgway of Li Ning Star, China, who emerged on top, stopping the clock at 02:31:49 to claim his second consecutive stage victory and strengthen his grip on the Yellow Jersey.
Mudgway’s back-to-back wins have already turned him into the central figure of this year’s race. After dominating the Mulshi–Maval opener, he doubled down on the Maratha Heritage Circuit, confirming that his Stage One triumph was no accident. With the general classification now beginning to take shape, the Australian rider has firmly placed himself as the man everyone else must try to dislodge as the race moves deeper into Maharashtra’s unforgiving terrain.
The Stage Two podium reflected just how tight the contest was. Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed, Thailand, produced a composed and controlled ride to finish second, while Belgium’s Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto–Isorex claimed third, making it two podium finishes in as many days after also finishing third on the opening stage. Clement Alleno and Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, took fourth and fifth respectively, with Stefan Benetton of Eurocyclingtrips CCN, Guam, completing the top six.
Remarkably, all six riders were credited with the same time of 02:31:49, with their positions decided by a photo finish, underlining how fiercely contested the stage was.
Under Union Cycliste Internationale regulations, Mudgway earned a 10-second time bonus for the stage win, Bettles received six seconds, and Lauryssen four seconds. In a race where margins are often measured in seconds rather than minutes, those bonuses could prove crucial as the Grand Tour progresses.
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Speaking after the finish, Mudgway was candid about the severity of the day. “It was a hot day, lots of mountains, but yeah, I survived to the finish, and again I got to do a sprint from a small group. So, that’s what suits me well. I’m glad I could execute it again today,” he said, summing up a stage that had pushed even the strongest riders to their limits.
Behind Mudgway’s individual brilliance was a carefully executed team plan. Li Ning Star arrived at the race with a slightly reduced squad, but they compensated with discipline and smart riding. Two of Mudgway’s teammates sacrificed themselves on the front, controlling breakaways and keeping the pace steady, allowing their climbers to conserve energy for the decisive moments. “My teammates did an amazing job today,” Mudgway acknowledged.
“We came here with one less rider; we only had five riders, so we knew today was going to be tough to control. We had to control our two sprinters, so that we three climbers could rest, and then they brought it back close enough before the second-to-last climb.”
The defining moment of the stage came on the final climb, a brutal second-category ascent that was the steepest of the day. Attacks came thick and fast as riders fought to establish position before the plunge towards the finish. From the summit, the road dropped sharply into a narrow, highly technical descent that offered little room for error and almost no opportunity to regroup. It was on this treacherous section that the strongest riders separated themselves from the rest, and Mudgway showed once again that he is as confident downhill as he is in a sprint.
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“Teams started attacking us, but I managed to keep it under control,” Mudgway explained. “I had one of my teammates with me after the first climb, he rode me to the finish, and then I got to sprint again and happy I could finish it off for my team.” It was a performance that blended tactical intelligence with raw physical ability.
While the Yellow Jersey stayed firmly on Mudgway’s shoulders, the demanding terrain reshaped the other classifications. Stefan Benetton dominated the climbs to claim the Polka Dot Jersey as the King of the Mountains leader. Jambaljamts Sainbayar retained the Orange Jersey as the Best Asian Rider, continuing to impress with his consistency. Dutch rider Tijssen Viego of Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam took the White Jersey for Best Young Rider, while Sarda Manav of the Indian Development Team topped the domestic contingent to claim the Blue Jersey as India’s leading performer on the day.
With two brutal stages now in the books, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour moves into an even more tactically complex phase. Stage Three, the Western Ghats Gateway, stretches 134 kilometres from Purandar to Baramati and includes over 1,024 metres of climbing. Rolling terrain, exposed roads and the constant threat of crosswinds promise a different kind of challenge, one that could still shake up the general classification.
After two days of attrition, one thing is already clear: this race demands far more than just fast legs. It requires resilience, teamwork, and the ability to think clearly under pressure. For now, Luke Mudgway is answering every question the Pune Grand Tour asks, and he remains the man to beat as the battle for yellow heads into its next chapter.
