Stage Three of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 delivered exactly what a decisive mid-race chapter is meant to provide attrition, tactical tension, and a dramatic sprint that reshaped the balance of the overall contest without yet settling it.
Set against the undulating terrain of the Western Ghats Gateway, the 22 January stage tested the peloton’s endurance and nerve, before Cameron Nicholas Scott of Li Ning Star emerged as the day’s strongest rider in a tightly contested finale.
The riders were sent on their way from Saswad Municipal Council at Chandan Tekadi at 12:30 pm, with Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Pune’s Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar flagging off the field. From the opening kilometres, it was clear this would not be a routine transitional stage. The rolling climbs, gusty winds and narrow roads combined to fragment the peloton, forcing teams into constant vigilance as they fought for position and rhythm.
By the time the race entered Baramati and turned toward the finish at Vidya Pratishthan, Pencil Chowk, only a reduced group remained capable of contesting the stage. After more than three hours of relentless pace, it all came down to a furious sprint among the survivors. Scott timed his acceleration perfectly, powering clear in the final metres to take victory in 3:04:13. Greece’s Georgios Bouglas of Burgos Burpellet BH, who had animated much of the stage with aggressive riding, was forced to settle for second despite clocking the same time, while Belgium’s Timothy Dupont of Tarteletto–Isorex completed the podium.
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Just behind the leading trio, a cluster of riders crossed together, underlining how evenly matched the day had been. Clement Alleno of Burgos Burpellet BH continued his excellent climbing form, consolidating his hold on the King of the Mountains classification and the Polka Dot Jersey. Zeb Kyffin of Terengganu Cycling Team was another prominent figure in the lead group, while Luke Mudgway, winner of both Stage One and Stage Two, finished just off the podium but crucially avoided any significant time loss.
Mudgway’s sixth-place finish was a textbook example of riding with the general classification in mind. Although he missed out on a third consecutive stage win, the Li Ning Star rider did enough to retain the Yellow Jersey as the overall leader and also picked up the Green Jersey for Best Sprinter. After three days of racing, Mudgway leads the race with a cumulative time of 7:36:10, holding a narrow 14-second advantage over Carter Alan Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspace, Thailand. Belgian rider Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto–Isorex remains a serious contender as well, just 17 seconds off the lead.
The physical toll of the stage was evident in the way the peloton was repeatedly stretched across the road. The early climbs immediately forced a high tempo, with rival teams launching probing attacks to isolate the leaders and test their legs. On exposed sections, crosswinds added another layer of complexity, creating echelons and making it difficult for riders to find shelter. Even when the terrain briefly flattened, the pace rarely eased, and the repeated accelerations ensured there was little chance for recovery.
Scott, reflecting on his hard-earned victory, admitted that the stage had been more demanding than many had expected. “I think it was a lot harder than people anticipated,” he said. “The first two climbs were quite tough and the pace stayed high over the top. There were a lot of attacks from other teams and the race didn’t really stop until we got into the straight roads, and even then the crosswind made it difficult.”
He also spoke about the technical nature of the route, which suited his aggressive style. “The roads over the top of the climb were really twisty. I had a lot of fun there lots of corners and high-speed single file. It was one of those days where you had to be fully switched on all the time.”
Beyond the stage win and the battle for yellow, the secondary classifications continued to take shape. Mongolia’s Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH retained the Orange Jersey as Best Asian Rider, his consistent all-round performances making him one of the standout riders of the tour so far. Dutch youngster Viego Tijssen of Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam once again wore the White Jersey as Best Young Rider (Under-23), while Harshveer Singh Sekhon of the Indian National Team reclaimed the Blue Jersey as India’s leading performer, underlining the growing domestic presence in the race.
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With three stages now in the books, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour remains finely poised. The final act, Stage Four — the Pune Pride Loop will cover 95 kilometres with 578 metres of elevation, weaving through the city’s modern avenues and historic landmarks, including the iconic Shaniwar Wada. The combination of technical sections and the likelihood of a fast, high-pressure finish means there is still plenty of scope for late drama.
Mudgway may still be in yellow, but with his closest rivals separated by mere seconds, no one can afford to relax. Cameron Scott’s Stage Three triumph has added another layer of intrigue to an already compelling race, ensuring that when the peloton rolls out for the final stage, the overall title will be very much up for grabs.
