Pune to Host Historic UCI Road World Championships in 2032

Pune will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, becoming the first Indian city to stage one of road cycling’s most prestigious international events. The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal, Canada, after Pune made its final candidature presentation to the Union Cycliste Internationale.

The championship will bring the world’s leading road cyclists to India to compete for rainbow jerseys, marking a major moment for the country’s cycling ambitions. Pune’s successful bid was led jointly by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, with support from the Government of India, under a plan to establish the city as a global cycling destination.

The announcement gives Pune a place on a host list that includes major cycling destinations across the world. It also provides Indian cycling with a long runway to develop athletes, coaches, technical officials and event infrastructure ahead of 2032.

Pune wins a competitive hosting race

Pune emerged from a two-way contest with Groningen/Drenthe in the Netherlands. Colombia and Mexico had previously been eliminated from the candidature process before the final presentations in Montreal, which took place during the 2026 UCI Road World Championships.

A senior delegation from the Government of Maharashtra travelled to Montreal to support the city’s bid. Maninder Pal Singh, secretary general of the Cycling Federation of India, and Onkar Singh, former secretary general of the Asian Cycling Confederation, were also present.

The bid gained momentum after a three-member UCI inspection team visited Pune from September 4 to 6. The inspection assessed key venues and proposed race infrastructure, including Balewadi Stadium and the Pune University circuit. Pune’s candidature also built on the city’s experience of hosting the inaugural Bajaj Pune Grand Tour in January 2026.

UCI president David Lappartient said the report on the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour presented to the UCI Management Committee had been encouraging. He added that cycling continued to develop in new territories where it had 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,” Lappartient said in a statement.

A place on cycling’s global calendar

The UCI Road World Championships have recently travelled across several continents. The last five editions were held in Wollongong, Australia, in 2022; Glasgow and Scotland in 2023; Zurich, Switzerland, in 2024; Kigali, Rwanda, in 2025; and Montréal, Canada, in 2026.

Before Pune hosts in 2032, the road championships are scheduled for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in 2028, Denmark in 2029, Brussels in Belgium in 2030 and Trentino in Italy in 2031. The 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships will be held in Haute-Savoie, France.

For the Cycling Federation of India, the hosting award is not only an event opportunity but also a chance to strengthen the domestic ecosystem around the sport. Singh said the years before 2032 would focus on creating stronger pathways for athletes, coaches and technical officials, introducing international expertise and giving Indian riders greater exposure to the highest standards of cycling.

“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,” Singh said. The federation, he added, is committed to using the event to build an ecosystem capable of competing with the world’s best.

With six years to prepare, Pune’s selection places India at the centre of a major future date on the international road cycling calendar and gives the sport a landmark platform in the country.