Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 Concludes in Grand Style; Luke Mudgway Leads Li Ning Star to Overall Victory

Pune, January 24, 2026: Amid massive crowds and an electrifying atmosphere at the Pune Pride Loop, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 concluded on Friday in spectacular fashion, marking a significant milestone for international cycling in India. Luke Mudgway of the Li Ning Star team emerged as the overall champion, while the Chinese outfit also clinched the team title. The fourth and final stage was won by Alexey Shnayrko, who clocked an impressive time of 1 hour, 56 minutes and 54 seconds.

The final stage saw cyclists cover a challenging 95-kilometre route through the heart of Pune, including a total elevation gain of 578 metres. The race passed through several historic city roads and iconic landmarks such as Shaniwar Wada, offering a unique blend of sport and heritage. Over four stages, riders covered a cumulative distance of 437 kilometres.

Li Ning Star topped the team classification with a combined timing of 28 hours, 41 minutes and 19 seconds, maintaining dominance across all four stages thanks to Mudgway’s consistent performance. Spain’s Burgos Burpellet BH finished second (28:42:09), followed by Malaysia’s Terengganu Cycling Team in third place (28:48:19). In the final stage, Alexey of Li Ning Star secured first place, followed by teammate Cameron Nicholas Scott in second and Dylan Hopkins of Roubaix Insurance WinSpeed in third.

Luke Mudgway proved to be the standout performer of the five-day race. After winning the first two stages, he emerged as the undisputed overall winner, completing the tour in a total time of 9 hours, 33 minutes and 04 seconds. Competing against 164 elite riders from 29 teams representing 35 countries across five continents, Mudgway finished just 14 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Allan Carter Bettles of Thailand’s Roubaix Insurance WinSpeed team. Belgium’s Yorben Laurysen of Tarteletto–Isorex secured third place, 33 seconds behind the leader.

Mudgway claimed the coveted Yellow Jersey on the opening day during the Mulshi–Maval Miles stage and retained it till the end. His consistent performances also earned him the Green Jersey for accumulating the highest points, capping off a week marked by determination, strategy and teamwork.

Speaking after securing the overall title, Mudgway credited his team for the success. “My team has been incredible from start to finish. As you saw over the past two days, different riders from our team won stages. This victory is the result of hard work, excellent teamwork, long hours of training and dedication. This win belongs to the entire team,” he said. He also praised the overwhelming support from Pune’s citizens, adding, “I have never seen such crowds before. The entire route was lined with people, and it was truly special to race in front of them. I would love to come back here next year.”

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Director General Amina Lanaya lauded the event, calling it a matter of pride for India. “India has successfully delivered a world-class race in its very first edition. Our aim is to see cycling grow in popularity here, much like cricket,” she said. The race held special importance as it awarded ranking points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, signaling the beginning of a new era for cycling in India.

Winners were felicitated by actor Aamir Khan at the closing ceremony. Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, MP Medha Kulkarni, UCI Director General Amina Lanaya, Asian Cycling Confederation President Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Dato Maninder Pal Singh, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, and Bajaj Auto Vice President (Taxation) Chetan Joshi were among the dignitaries present.

Other Jersey Winners:

Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Clement Alleno (Burgos Burpellet BH)

Orange Jersey (Best Asian Rider): Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos Burpellet BH)

White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Tijssen Vigo (Netherlands)

Blue Jersey (Best Indian Rider): Harshveer Singh Sekhon

Top Three Indian Riders:

Harshveer Singh Sekhon, Manav Sarda, Dinesh Kumar