Pune, January 14 (NationPress) The Indian cycling squad has officially arrived in Pune on Wednesday, gearing up for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, which is significant as it marks India's inaugural UCI 2.2 category multi-stage Continental Road Cycling Race for Men. This event is a pivotal moment for the nation’s cycling scene.

Set to take place from January 19 to 23, this five-stage race will cover a distance of 437 kilometers, featuring 171 elite cyclists from 29 teams hailing from 35 nations across five continents. The event is organized by the Pune District Administration and has the backing of the Government of Maharashtra, under the auspices of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI). The race will traverse through 9 talukas and 150 villages, solidifying Pune's and India's place on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) global calendar.

As excitement builds for this historic occasion, the Indian national cycling team has arrived in Pune, marking the culmination of preparations for the largest international road cycling event ever held in the country.

The CFI has announced that India will field two teams in the competition: the Indian National Team and the Indian Development Team. This reflects a focused strategy to enhance the competitive landscape, offering both experienced and emerging riders a chance to perform at an elite international level on home turf.

The Indian National Team includes notable riders such as Naveen John (Karnataka), Sahil Kumar (Haryana), Dinesh Kumar (Rourkela), Harshveer Singh Sekhon (Punjab), Vishwajeet Singh (Punjab), and Surya Thathu (Maharashtra), representing India's elite contingent for this historic race. Meanwhile, the Indian Development Team consists of Sachin Desai, Niraj Kumar, Vivaan Sapru, Manav Sarda, Chirag Sehgal, and Akshar Tyagi, showcasing the next wave of Indian road cycling talent.

The selection process for these teams was rigorous, starting with the National Road Cycling Championship-cum-selection trials held in Sambalpur, Odisha, from December 2 to 6, 2025, ensuring that riders were evaluated on terrain that mirrored the Grand Tour stages.

Naveen John, from Bangalore, Karnataka, will spearhead the Indian National team’s efforts. He is notably the only Indian to have raced professionally for a UCI Continental team (State of Matter/MAAP – based in Australia).

Upon arriving in Pune, he expressed, “Racing in the Pune Grand Tour on Indian roads, in front of home fans, fills us with pride. Competing in a UCI 2.2 stage race in India represents a significant advancement for our sport, and we are eager to challenge ourselves against international competitors while representing our country.”

CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh emphasized the importance of entering two teams, stating, “The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is a crucial milestone for Indian cycling. Having two national teams enables us to expand our talent pool while giving both seasoned and developing riders invaluable exposure at a top-tier international level.”

With Team India settled in Pune and final arrangements underway, the inaugural Pune Grand Tour is poised to become one of the most remarkable cycling events ever held in India, further elevating the nation's profile on the professional road cycling stage.