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Fans across Pune are thriled as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 reaches its last day. This isn’t just any cycling event, it is India’s first UCI 2.2 classified men’s road race that has attracted 171 riders from 35 countries across 29 teams.
Over the past four days, cyclists have tested their endurance as they navigated through steep climbs, sharp corners and long stretches across the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Range. Stage 4 which is also called the Pune Pride Loop, will take place today, January 23. Before getting into the details of final stage, let’s take a look at how the tour has unfolded so far.
Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026: Recap Of Stages 1-3
Prologue: January 19 (Goodluck Chowk, 7.5 km)
- The tour started with a short, fast-paced prologue to establish the initial rankings. Cyclists raced along Goodluck Chowk to establish early general classification standings.
Stage 1: January 20 (Mulshi–Maval Miles, 87.2 km)
- Riders drove through Pune’s IT corridor including Hinjewadi.
Stage 2: January 21 (Maratha Heritage Circuit, 105.3 km)
- Featuring ghat climbs near Purandar Fort, Sinhagad and Khadakwasla Lake, this stage challenged climbing endurance.
Stage 3: January 22 (Western Ghats Gateway, 134 km)
- The longest stage took riders from Purandar to Baramati across the Deccan Plateau and Western Ghats.
After three grueling days of racing, the riders are now ready for the grand finale through the heart of Pune.
Stage 4: Pune Pride Loop (January 23, 95 km)
Flag-Off & Start Point: Stage 4 begins at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex (Balewadi Stadium) at 1:30 PM. Cyclists will cover a 95-km urban circuit passing through Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad that includes major landmarks and busy roads.
Key Route & Expected Timings:
- Pashan & University Chowk: at around 1:46 PM.
- PCMC Leg: Dange Chowk (approximately 1:59 PM), Bhakti Shakti Chowk (around 2:09 PM) and Spine Road (2:26 PM).
- Return To Pune City: The riders will pass through Empire Estate and Kalewadi Chowk and cross University Chowk at 2:53 PM.
- Closing Kilometers: Nalstop Chowk, Swargate (Laxmi Narayan/Seven Loves Chowk), Turf Club, National War Memorial at 3:33 PM and Shaniwar Wada at 3:36 PM.
- Finish Line: At approximately 3:44 PM at Bal Gandharv Rangmandir on JM Road.
Spectator Advisory
Fans should arrive 30–45 minutes early at their chosen locations.
Recommended gathering points and times:
- FC Road: 3:10 PM – 4:10 PM
- Indrayani Chowk: 1:50 PM – 2:45 PM
- Other points: National War Memorial, Shaniwar Wada, Nalstop Chowk and Swargate.
- Spectators are advised to follow police instructions, stay safe on sidewalks and avoid crowding.
Traffic Diversions: Pune City
- Radha Chowk to Punam Bakery: Closed. Vehicles diverted via Saykar Chowk or Sutarwadi underpass.
- Punam Bakery to Vidyapeeth Chowk: Traffic stopped. Diversion via Sutarwadi Road.
- Pashan Circle to Pune University Chowk: Diverted via Baner Road.
- Pune Vidyapeeth Chowk to Rajiv Gandhi Bridge: Diverted via Bremen Chowk, Spicer College, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk and Range Hills.
- Rajiv Gandhi Bridge to SB Junction: Diverted via Bremen Chowk, Spicer College, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk and Range Hills.
- SB Junction to Patrakar Nagar: Diverted via Ganesh Khind Road.
- Patrakar Nagar to Shelar Mama Chowk: Diverted via Bhandarkar Road and BMCC Road.
- Vanaz to Nal Stop: Diverted via Rambag Colony.
- Nal Stop Chowk to Mhatre Bridge to Senadatt Chowky: Diverted via Law College Road and DP Road.
- Rashtrabhushan Chowk to NS Phadke Chowk: Diverted via Jedhe Chowk, Seven Loves Chowk and Golibar Maidan.
- Savarkar Chowk to Maharashtra Mandal Chowk: Diverted via Marketyard Road and Gangadham Chowk.
- Arjun Road to Ghorpadi Junction: Diverted via Prince of Wales Road and Empress Garden.
- Lal Mahal Chowk to SG Barve Chowk: Diverted via Kumbharwada Road, Kelkar Road and Riverside Road.
- Narveer Tanaji Wadi to Garware Junction: Diverted via Old Pune Mumbai Highway, Ganesh Khind Road, Range Hills Road.
- Balgandharva area: Diverted via Riverside Road, Apte Road and Congress Bhavan Road.
Traffic Diversions: Pimpri-Chinchwad
- Main road closures and diversions in Bavdhan, Sangvi, Wakad, Nigdi, Pimpri and Chikhli traffic divisions.
- Nande Mahalunge to Radha Chowk: Diverted via PICT School.
- Buntara Bhavan Service Road to Radha Chowk: Diverted via Dnyati Showroom.
- Aundh D Mart to Dhore Patil Road: Diverted via Nagras Road.
- Takle Chowk to Rakshak Chowk: Diverted via New DP Road.
- Jagtap Dairy Chowk to Kaspate Chowk: Diverted via underpass.
- Pachpir Chowk to MM Chowk: Diverted via Nadhe Chowk.
- Dilip Vengsarkar Academy Chowk to Tapkir Chowk: Diverted via Thergaon and Dange Chowk.
- Kaspate Vasti to Kalewadi Phata: Diverted via Chhatrapati Chowk and Mankar Chowk.
- Tathawade underpass to Tathawade Gaon: Diverted via New DP Road.
- ISKON Temple to Dharmaraj Chowk: Diverted via Akurdi Station underpass and Bhakti Shakti to Mukai Chowk Road.
- Swami Vivekanand Chowk to Bhel Chowk: Diverted via Bijlinagar and Appu Ghar Corner.
Hatti Chowk to Yamunanahar Chowk: Diverted via Tilak Chowk and Shani Mandir. - Basweshwar Chowk to Rajmata Jijau Chowk: Diverted via KSB Chowk and Mahavir Chowk.
Race Fever Takes Over Pune
The excitement around the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 is impossible to miss especially on social media. Fans and cycling enthusiasts have been sharing videos and images from the event.
One video highlights the race intensifying at Bopdev Ghat where riders tackle steep, elevated roads amid cheers from the crowd. The sheer effort and skill of the cyclists did not go unnoticed.
One user commented, “Even some old cars cannot climb the Bopdev curves without stalling. This is incredible strength from the riders.”
Another added, “Every cyclist earned my respect today because when they were cycling in Bopdev Ghat, I felt like I am having cramps in my legs. They literally paddled and climbed Bopdev Ghat in 5 minutes. The resilience and perseverance they showed today really motivated me.”
Other posts show riders zooming through Pune streets which gave fans a close look at their speed and tactics as they compete for the win.
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