India Wins Bid to Host 2032 UCI Road World Championships in Pune

Pune has been selected to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships, bringing one of the biggest events on the international cycling calendar to India for the first time.

The successful bid was a joint effort by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), with support from the Government of India. The candidature was built around a broader vision that goes beyond hosting the championship, with plans to develop cycling infrastructure, strengthen athlete pathways, increase grassroots participation and establish Pune as a global cycling destination.

The announcement was made at the UCI Congress in Montréal, Canada, following Pune’s final candidature presentation to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Pune emerged as the successful candidate after the bidding process narrowed to a final contest between Pune and Groningen/Drenthe in the Netherlands. Colombia and Mexico had been eliminated earlier. A three-member UCI inspection team visited Pune from September 4 to 6 to assess proposed venues, routes and infrastructure, including the Balewadi Stadium and Pune University circuit.

Pune's final presentation in Montréal outlined the city's preparedness and long-term plans for the championships. The candidature was formally presented by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi and CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh. The successful bid builds on Pune's growing experience in international cycling, particularly through the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, a UCI 2.2 stage race that has provided the city with practical experience of hosting international road cycling.

The Pune Grand Tour has been central to the city's candidature. During the 2026 edition, organisers coordinated with more than 25 government departments and delivered 437 kilometres of race-ready roads. The experience is expected to form the operational foundation for the 2032 World Championships, with the Grand Tour projected to provide six years of experience by the time the global event arrives in Pune.

A UCI delegation had also assessed proposed race infrastructure, accommodation, start and finish locations and operational arrangements. The Balewadi Sports Complex and Savitribai Phule Pune University were among the facilities examined during the inspection. UCI President David Lappartient welcomed the development, describing the report presented on the Pune Grand Tour as encouraging and highlighting India's potential for cycling development.

A Global Cycling Championship Comes to India

The UCI Road World Championships are among the most prestigious events in international cycling, with riders competing for the famous rainbow jerseys. The scale of the event was demonstrated at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, which featured 734 riders from 113 countries, approximately two million spectators and a cumulative global television audience of nearly 300 million viewers.

For India, hosting the championship will therefore provide an unprecedented international platform for Pune, Maharashtra and Indian cycling. The event will allow the country to showcase its sporting infrastructure, landscapes, culture and growing cycling ecosystem to a global audience.

The Pune bid is not centred solely on the championship itself. The vision for 2032 includes establishing Pune as India's definitive cycling district, increasing participation and developing world-class cycling infrastructure. The championship is also being positioned as a “people’s race”, with the candidature projecting up to 2.5 million spectators. Proposed routes would showcase Pune's forts, ghats, farms, heritage sites and pilgrimage destinations.

The event is expected to reach audiences across India through broadcasters, OTT platforms and digital channels, potentially turning the championship into a nationwide celebration of cycling.

The six-year journey towards 2032 will also focus on strengthening India's cycling ecosystem. Plans include developing grassroots participation, coaching, elite athlete pathways, technical expertise and event-delivery capabilities. India already has a growing network of coaches, commissaires and officials, as well as a national and international cycling calendar.

The roadmap includes knowledge exchange with international experts, year-on-year development of the Pune Grand Tour and UCI-aligned coaching and certification programmes. Particular attention will also be given to women's and youth cycling, upgraded infrastructure, sustainability, local employment and sports tourism.

Part of India’s Larger Sporting Ambition

The 2032 championship also fits into India's broader ambitions in international sport. The National Sports Policy 2025 has identified global sporting excellence, grassroots-to-elite pathways, world-class infrastructure and sports tourism among its priorities, while India's stated ambition includes hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

For Pune and Maharashtra, hosting the UCI Road World Championships will provide experience in managing a major international championship involving athletes, teams, officials, broadcasters, spectators and global sporting stakeholders. With the World Championships scheduled four years before the proposed 2036 Olympics, the event could also provide a significant platform for developing expertise in large-scale sports administration and event delivery.

Pune's selection marks a major moment for Indian cycling. The next six years will be about converting the successful bid into a world-class championship while building a legacy that extends beyond the event itself. Infrastructure, athlete development, technical expertise, grassroots participation, sustainability and sports tourism will all form part of that journey.

In 2032, the world's best road cyclists will arrive in Pune competing for the rainbow jerseys. For India, however, the significance will extend well beyond the finish line.

Pune will become the first Indian city to host the UCI Road World Championships — putting Indian cycling on the global road-racing map.