Pune: There is a mix of disbelief, excitement and curiosity among residents of the villages in Mulshi and Maval talukas. For years, these villages were linked to Pune by a narrow stretch of uneven and potholed road. But within a month, that same route has been transformed into a spotless ribbon of fresh tarmac, its smooth curves framed by the scenic Pavana dam backwaters, creating a picture-perfect setting.It didn’t take long for villagers to learn the reason behind this sudden makeover — the Pune Grand Tour, a UCI 2.2-level international cycling event, being hosted in India for the first time.The Tour de France often evokes images of vast sunflower fields and endless winding roads. With cleaner villages and newly laid roads, the Pune Grand Tour aims to deliver a similar visual experience to audiences, along with the thrill of competitive road cycling.Though the PGT mirrors the Tour de France in format, its difficulty level is far lower. However, if executed well, the race could be upgraded by the UCI, attracting elite cyclists and more tourists—an outcome organizers are actively aiming for. Deepak Dabhade (24), who runs a Misal outlet in Kalwan village in Mulshi said the changes had already impacted his business. “Our roads were terrible earlier, but now they’re completely transformed. In some places, the width has increased from three metres to six. Earlier, we waited for monsoon for visitors, but since the road work, more bikers and cyclists from Pune are visiting on weekends. Business has improved,” he said.Navnath Padaval (60) from Mahagaon in Maval said the new connectivity had improved social interaction too. “With more people expected to travel through this route, many new snack shops have opened. We now have more options for meeting over tea,” he said with a chuckle.Cyclists in Pune, however, are cautiously optimistic. “The new roads are good news, but we need to see how safe they remain for everyday cyclists. Poor traffic discipline and reckless driving also need attention,” Kaustubh Radkar, an experienced Ironman athlete, said. “Initially, we might load our bikes in cars and start cycling only after leaving the city,” he said.The Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations, along with the PWD and other road development departments, worked together to complete the 437-km stretch. “We haven’t constructed new roads from scratch. The existing ones were improved with support from multiple departments using their allocated funds. All of this has been completed in a very short time, and we hope to showcase this region as a global tourist destination,” Pune collector Jitendra Dudi told TOI.“This isn’t a one-off event. We plan to conduct it for many years to come,” he added.The Pune Grand Tour 2026 kicks off on Jan 19 with a 7.5km prologue at Goodluck Chowk, featuring a high-intensity team pole-position time trial. Stage 1 on Jan 20 covers 87.2km through the Mulshi-Maval Miles, combining flat sprints, technical sections and scenic stretches along the Hinjewadi IT corridor. The challenge intensifies on Jan 21 with stage 2, a 105.3km Maratha Heritage Circuit that climbs steep ghats around Purandar Fort, Sinhagad and Khadakwasla Lake —an endurance-heavy mountain test. On Jan 22, stage 3 spans 134km through the Western Ghats Gateway, moving from Purandar to Baramati across fast, rolling terrain prone to crosswinds. The tour concludes on Jan 23 with stage 4, a 95km Pune Pride Loop weaving through central landmarks like Shaniwar Wada, delivering a technical urban course and a dramatic finale.
