Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026: Luke Modgway Dominates Mulshi–Maval Stage; Harshveer Singh Emerges As Best Indian Cyclist

Pune, January 21, 2026: Luke Modgway of China’s Li Ning Star team delivered a commanding performance in the Mulshi–Maval stage of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first-ever international multi-stage cycling race classified under the prestigious UCI 2.2 category. Meanwhile, India’s national rider Harshveer Singh Sekhon earned recognition as the Best Indian Cyclist of the stage.

The opening stage, titled Mulshi–Maval Miles, covered a distance of 87.2 kilometres and began from TCS Circle in Hinjawadi. Luke Modgway completed the race in an impressive time of 2 hours and 21 seconds, sealing victory with a decisive lead in the final moments. From the outset, the stage witnessed fast-paced racing and high technical skill, with Modgway maintaining control and capitalising at a crucial point to secure the win.

Estonia’s Andreas Matildas of the Quick Pro Team finished second with a timing of 2:00:27, while Belgium’s Yorben Laurysen from the Tarteletto–Isorex team claimed third place at 2:00:30. As per UCI regulations, the top three finishers were awarded time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively, which are expected to play a vital role in the overall classification in the upcoming stages.

During the race, an accident involving a few cyclists from the second group occurred shortly after the first checkpoint. In the interest of rider safety and in accordance with UCI safety protocols, the race was temporarily halted for approximately 23 minutes. Following prompt medical attention and technical assistance, the competition was resumed.

At the conclusion of the first stage, leaders across various classifications were awarded their respective jerseys. Luke Modgway claimed both the Yellow Jersey for overall leadership and the Green Jersey for points classification. Cristian Raileanu (China) received the Polka Dot Jersey as the Best Climber, while Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Mongolia was awarded the Orange Jersey as the Best Asian Rider. The White Jersey for Best Young Rider went to Tamar Spiero of the Netherlands, and India’s Harshveer Singh Sekhon was honoured with the Blue Jersey as the Best Indian Rider.

The stage winners and jersey holders were felicitated by Member of Parliament Medha Kulkarni, MLAs Uma Khapre, Amit Gorkhe and Shankar Jagtap, along with Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar and Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Choubey, among other dignitaries.

Attention now turns to the second stage, the Maratha Heritage Circuit, scheduled for January 21. Spanning a challenging 105.3 kilometres, this stage will test the endurance of cyclists as they climb a total elevation of 1,051 metres. Passing through historically significant locations such as Purandar Fort, Sinhagad and the Khadakwasla lake region, the route is expected to be one of the most demanding segments of the tour.

Organised jointly by the Pune District Administration, the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, the five-day international event has attracted 171 cyclists from 35 countries. Covering a total distance of 437 kilometres, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is showcasing Pune’s rich cultural and historical heritage on a global platform.

Upcoming Stages Schedule:

 January 21: Stage 2 – Maratha Heritage Circuit (105.3 km)

 January 22: Stage 3 – Gateway to the Western Ghats (134 km)

 January 23: Stage 4 – Pune Pride Loop (95 km)