Luke Mudgway arrived in Pune for the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 with cycling on his mind, but the Li Ning Star team seems to have an unbreakable winning streak. The New Zealander, representing the Chinese team, has dominated the early stages of the tour, showcasing his sprinting prowess and tactical acumen.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026, marking India's first foray into the global professional cycling calendar, began on Tuesday, January 20th, with the demanding Mulshi-Maval stage. The 87.2-kilometer stage, characterized by grasslands, winding hills, and scenic backwaters around Pune, tested the riders' speed and stamina right from the start at the TCS Circle near Hinjewadi. Mudgway emerged victorious after a thrilling sprint finish, clocking in at 2 hours and 21 seconds. Andreas Matildas of Quick Pro Team (Estonia) finished six seconds behind, and Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto–Isorex (Belgium) took third place. "It was really, really fast from the start," Mudgway said after his victory, acknowledging the crucial support of his teammates.
Stage 2, the Maratha Heritage Circuit, further solidified Mudgway's lead. The 105.3km race, held on Wednesday, January 21st, took the cyclists through a landscape dotted with forts and featuring steep gradients. Mudgway again secured first place with a time of 2 hours 31 minutes and 49 seconds. Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed (Thailand) and Yorben Lauryssen repeated his third-place finish. According to UCI 2.2 regulations, Mudgway received a 10-second time bonus for his stage win, strengthening his overall position. "It was a hot day, lots of mountains, but I survived to the finish and again got to sprint from a small group," Mudgway commented.
Stage 3, however, saw a shift in the team's winning formula, but not away from Li Ning Star. Cameron Nicholas Scott, also of Li Ning Star, conquered the Western Ghats Gateway, which started at Saswad Municipal Council and ended at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati. Scott clocked in at 03:04:13, followed closely by Georgios Bouglas and Timothy Dupont. Mudgway finished sixth in this stage but managed to retain the Yellow Jersey as the overall General Qualification leader and won the Green Jersey for best sprinter.
After three stages, Luke Mudgway maintains his lead in the general classification with a cumulative time of 07:36:10, holding a 14-second advantage over Alan Carter Bettles. Yorben Lauryssen remains a close contender, trailing by just 17 seconds.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is not just a sporting event; it offers riders the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points toward qualification for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics. The race continues to unfold, with more demanding stages to come.
