Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026: Luke Madgway Dominates Again, Wins ‘Maratha Heritage Circuit’ Stage
Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026: Luke Madgway Dominates Again, Wins ‘Maratha Heritage Circuit’ Stage
Pune, January 22, 2026: The highly anticipated international cycling event, Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, witnessed another thrilling day as the second stage—titled the ‘Maratha Heritage Circuit’—unfolded on Monday. Luke Madgway of China’s Li Ning Star team clinched his second consecutive stage victory, strengthening his lead and retaining the prestigious Yellow Jersey. The winners were felicitated by MLA Bhimrao Tapkir and Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.
The second stage covered a demanding 105.3 km route, beginning at Ladies Club in Pune Camp at 12:30 pm and concluding at Nanded City on Sinhagad Road. With steep climbs, winding roads and difficult terrain, the stage tested the riders’ strength, endurance and tactical ability.
Madgway completed the stage in 02:31:49, securing first place. Allan Carter Bettles of Thailand’s Roojai Insurance team finished second, while Belgium’s Yorben Laurijssen secured third place.
After Stage 2, the jersey classifications stood as follows:
- Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader): Luke Madgway (China)
- Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Stephen Beneton (Guam)
- Orange Jersey (Best Asian Rider): Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Mongolia/Spain)
- White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Tijssen Vigo (Netherlands)
- Blue Jersey (Best Indian Rider): Manav Sardana (Indian Development Team)
The race is considered a major milestone for Indian cycling. Categorized as a UCI 2.2 event, it is India’s first five-day multi-stage continental cycle race, featuring 171 elite cyclists from 35 countries across five continents. Covering a total distance of 437 km, the route passes through 9 talukas and 150 villages in Pune district. Remarkably, road infrastructure and other facilities were upgraded to international standards within just 75 days.
Speaking after his win, Madgway said, “The heat was intense today and the climbs were challenging, but great teamwork helped secure this victory.”
The third stage of the race—‘Western Ghats Gateway’—will be held tomorrow, January 22, 2026, covering 134 km from Purandar to Baramati, offering spectators another chance to witness world-class cycling action at high speed.
