4 min readPuneJan 21, 2026 10:43 PM IST
First published on: Jan 21, 2026 at 10:26 PM IST
As the team convoys exited Nanded City, Pune, at the end of Stage 2 of the Pune Grand Tour, the cyclists waved from their vehicles at the crowd of locals gathered along the route. Such crowds, constant at the start and end points of the race on the first three days and even at many rural locations, delighted the international cyclists taking part in the race. The riders obliged to a constant demand for selfies, with some even having to be escorted out of crowds by bouncers.
Estonian cyclist Kannimäe Taav of the Quick Pro Team said, “I haven’t seen so many people beside the road, ever.” He has been to a few world championships and events in countries like Switzerland, Belgium, and Poland, but the crowd in India was unique.
Kannimäe Taav of Quick Pro Team. (Express Photo by Soham Shah)
“The first and the last 10 kilometres here were madness. My eardrums hurt a little bit, but it should be like that. When I first came to India, you know there are a thousand times less people in Estonia, so I was a little bit afraid. Pune city itself has many times more people than Estonia combined. So I was wondering how it is possible to avoid people? But it was, you proved it,” he added..
Patrice Robustelli, Sports Director of Thailand-based Grant Thornton Cycling Team, said that the crowd was similar to what is seen in Rwanda, a country where the sport of cycling is big.
He said, “If there is a crowd like this in the first edition, when people become more aware in Pune and in India, (it can be like Rwanda). It is wonderful to race here. Just like when you play cricket, it is more exciting for the players to race. And not just in the last few kilometres, but from every village people were coming out to cheer the cyclists.”
Indian food a big hit
The crowd was not the only thing that fascinated the international teams. Taav exclaimed, “All the spices! Our own food is not so tasty. When I go home I believe I should buy some spices from here.” Any Indian dish Taav picked at the hotel buffet had been turning out to be delicious and he especially loved naans, of which he consumed whole ‘piles’.
Stephan Van Der Swan, owner of Pro Cycling Stats team and the popular cycling stats website of the same name, had a similar experience with the food. “I love all the masalas. I would love to learn to cook it myself. We’re at the Hilton hotel and they make amazing food. Tikka masala is one of my favourites,” he said.
Swan was also amazed at how enthusiastic the crowd was, considering the fact that cycling racing as a sport is not common in the country.
Carl Jolly of the Schils-Doltcini team said he really enjoys eating daal. “I absolutely love the daals and have them at Indian places in England as well. But obviously it’s not the same as here.”
Kurtas and sarees
Cyclists donned kurtas with coloured ethnic jackets at the opening ceremony of the Grand Tour on January 17. Taav said that even though he had received a smaller size, he loved how it looked and will proudly be carrying it back to Estonia and giving it a place in his wardrobe. Same was the case with Swan, who said he loved the colours of India.
Meanwhile Swan’s wife Marijke Alois Van Goethem, also a part of the team staff, purchased four sarees in Pune. “They showed me how to wear it but will need more help,” she laughs and admits.
Crowd cheering on players convoys leaving at the end of the Stage 2 of the Pune Grand Tour. (Express Photo by Soham Shah) 
Kannimäe Taav of Quick Pro Team. (Express Photo by Soham Shah)
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