Sep 24: India is set for a major moment in international cycling after Pune was awarded the hosting rights for the 2032 UCI Road World Championships. It will be the first time the prestigious road cycling championship is held in India.
The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal after Pune’s final bid presentation. The successful candidature was backed by the Maharashtra government and the Cycling Federation of India, with support from the Government of India.
The championship will bring some of the world’s leading road cyclists to India, giving Indian riders an opportunity to experience top-level international competition on home soil. The event is also expected to strengthen pathways for athletes, coaches and technical officials as preparations get underway.
Pune’s recent experience in international cycling helped support its bid. The city hosted the Pune Grand Tour earlier this year, a four-stage UCI 2.2 event covering 437 km and featuring around 170 riders from 35 countries.
The 2032 championship could give a wider push to cycling across the country. Better training facilities, race infrastructure and greater exposure to international standards could help young riders develop their careers and encourage more people to take up cycling.
The event could also bring international attention to Pune and create opportunities around sports tourism, hospitality and event management. More importantly, it gives Indian cycling several years to prepare athletes and build the systems required to stage a championship of global scale.
With the world’s leading cyclists set to compete in Pune in 2032, the championship is expected to become an important chapter in India’s sporting journey and provide a stronger platform for the country’s cycling talent.
