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Pune Grand Tour 2026: MS Dhoni named goodwill ambassador for India’s first international cycling road race

The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is a multi-stage, five-day continental road cycling race for men, which will cover a 437-km route across the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri range.

2 min readPuneJan 16, 2026 11:47 AM IST

MS Dhoni named goodwill ambassador for India’s first international cycling road race (file)

Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Thursday named the goodwill ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first international cycling road race, scheduled to be held in the city from January 19-23.

The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is India’s first UCI 2.2 category multi-stage, five-day continental road cycling race for men, firmly placing the country on the global professional cycling circuit. The race will wind through a 437-km route across the Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri range, featuring sharp bends and challenging elevations. The event has attracted 171 riders from 29 teams across 35 countries.

Reminding the Indian National Team that “this is their moment to shine in front of home fans and bring glory to the nation,” Dhoni said, “I’m happy to be associated with the Pune Grand Tour… (With this) India is pedalling into a new chapter in cycling as a professional sport. I wish the organisers, the Pune District Administrators, great success with the initiative and all the riders the very best.

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Leading the international charge in the race will be Spain’s Pro Team Burgos Burpellet BH, ranked 27 in the world’s UCI ranking, followed by China’s Li Ning Star (ranked 36), and Malaysia’s Terengganu Cycling Team (ranked 37).

The Indian challenge will be led by decorated rider Naveen John for the Indian National Team. India will also field another team – the Indian Development Team – thus, featuring a total of 12 Indian riders with four substitutes, having an opportunity to prove their mettle on the home conditions at India’s first UCI 2.2 competition.

Meanwhile, the Pune district administration said it has spent Rs 500 crore to get the 437-km track in line with international cycling regulations.

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