Pune to host 2032 UCI Road World Championships after UCI Congress approval

Pune will host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships after India’s bid was approved by the Union Cycliste Internationale at its Congress in Montreal on Thursday. It will be the first time India stages cycling’s flagship road event.

The candidature was jointly pursued by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) with support from the Government of India. Pune’s bid prevailed in a two-way contest against Groningen/Drenthe of the Netherlands, after Colombia and Mexico were eliminated during the process. A three-member UCI inspection team visited Pune from September 4 to 6 to assess proposed venues, including the Balewadi Sports Complex and the Savitribai Phule Pune University circuit.

The presentation at the UCI Congress was delivered by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi and CFI secretary general Maninder Pal Singh. The bid cited Pune’s experience of hosting the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, a UCI 2.2 stage race, as a factor that strengthened its candidature.

“This is a defining moment for Pune and the result of a shared vision between the Government of Maharashtra and CFI,” Dudi said. “Hosting the championships is not simply about hosting a cycling race; it places Pune and India on one of international cycling’s most visible annual stages.”

The Road World Championships are among the sport’s premier events: the 2025 edition in Kigali attracted 734 riders from 113 countries and around two million spectators.

Maninder said the opportunity would help Indian cycling “move from participation to performance” and build stronger pathways for athletes, coaches and technical officials.

Organisers envisage the 2032 championships as more than a one-off event, with plans to strengthen grassroots participation, athlete development, coaching, technical expertise and infrastructure; the bid also projects the event as a platform to promote women’s and youth cycling and sports tourism.