Bajaj Pune Grand Tour Upgraded to UCI 2.1 for 2027

The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour has been upgraded from UCI 2.2 to UCI 2.1 ahead of its second edition in January 2027, a significant development for the race and Indian road cycling. The six-stage event will run from January 26 to January 31 across Pune and the wider district, beginning on Republic Day.

The move from Class 2 to Class 1 on the UCI international road racing calendar raises the status of the event, with more UCI ranking points available to riders and teams. It is also expected to attract stronger international participation and increase the level of competition across the race’s six days.

The upgrade arrives shortly after Pune was awarded the 2032 UCI Road World Championships at the UCI Congress in Montréal, Canada. Pune will become the first Indian host of cycling’s premier road championships, and the Grand Tour is set to provide a recurring international platform in the buildup to that event.

A higher classification for the 2027 race

The 2027 Bajaj Pune Grand Tour will feature six stages linking Mulshi and Hinjewadi, Baramati and Saswad, Junnar and Rajgurunagar, Alandi and Lonavala-Khandala, Lonavala and Hinjewadi, and PCMC and Balgandharva Rangmandir. The route will take in urban roads, rural stretches, historic locations and terrain in the Western Ghats.

The inaugural edition, held in January 2026, brought together 29 teams and 171 riders from 35 countries. It also drew an estimated 2.5 million spectators along the routes, underlining the scale of local interest as the event established itself on India’s international cycling calendar.

UCI President David Lappartient said the new classification reflected the progress made by the race. “The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour is an important platform for the development of road cycling in India,” Lappartient said. “Moving to UCI 2.1 reflects the progress the race has made and will provide an opportunity to bring a stronger level of international competition to Pune.”

He added that an event at this scale gives riders greater exposure to international racing while helping teams, officials and organisers gain experience at a higher level. It also offers Pune a wider opportunity to showcase its roads, landscapes and cycling culture before the 2032 championships.

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi described the step up as an important milestone for both the Grand Tour and cycling in India. He said the response to the first edition demonstrated the race’s potential, and that the higher classification could bring stronger international participation while creating opportunities for Indian riders to compete against experienced cyclists.

Part of Pune’s road to the 2032 World Championships

Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh said the UCI 2.1 designation reflected the growing stature of the event. He said races such as the Pune Grand Tour would help build the competitive experience, organisational capabilities and wider cycling ecosystem required as the country prepares for the global championships.

The importance of the 2027 edition extends beyond its six stages. With Pune now confirmed as the 2032 host, each running of the Grand Tour can contribute to the city’s preparations by providing an international racing environment for riders, teams, organisers and officials.

The January 26-31 race will therefore combine a higher UCI classification with a route spanning Pune and Maharashtra’s varied terrain. As the peloton returns for the second edition, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour will represent another step in Pune’s effort to establish itself as a destination for international road cycling ahead of 2032.