Festive end to Pune Grand Tour as Li Ning Star team dominates all stages

As thousands of people gathered along the race route on the final day of the match to cheer on the riders as they passed historic sites like Shaniwar Wada, it was the Li Ning Star team that emerged victorious in the Pune Grand Tour at the end of the final stage on January 23. Luke Mudgway, the team’s star athlete in this race, won the final yellow jersey, a prize he has held since first winning it on stage 1.

A quite expected result, since the China-based team had dominated the previous stages. Li Ning Star won the General Classification with a combined time of 28:41:19. Spanish powerhouse Burgos Burpellet BH, the only professional team in the inaugural edition of the event, took second place in 28:42:09, while Thailand’s Terengganu cycling team took third place on the podium in 28:48:19.

Starting at the Balewadi Stadium and winding through the twin cities of Pimpri Chinchwad and Punethe race ended at JM Road after more than 90 km. Riders commented that they had never seen large, vibrant crowds at a bike race.

After his victory, Mudgway hopes that the event will be organized on a large scale and with the UCI category next year: “I’m definitely going to miss the crowds… I think the race can definitely go to level 2.1. You definitely have the infrastructure to do it, so if it goes up another level, then bigger teams will come here. There will be more good riders, and that will make
“It’s a much more interesting career to pursue.”

Clement Alleno from Burgos Burpellet BH was awarded the ‘Polka Dot Jersey’ of the Ghatacha Raja (King of the Mountain) competition after scoring 15 points. The ‘Orange Jersey’ for the best Asian runner went to Jambaljamts Sainbayar, from Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain. Tijssen Viego from Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam, Netherlands, once again claimed the ‘White Jersey’ as ‘best young cyclist under-23’. Harshveer Singh Sekhon of the Indian national team finished the week as India’s best player, winning the ‘Blue Jersey’.

As an event of the Union Cycliste Internationale 2.2, the PGT offered points that counted towards qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games. Dressed in a green sari, Amina Lanaya, director general of the Union Cycliste Internationale, said: “I think the bar has been raised very high and India, just after the first edition, has shown that it can offer the best class event. So I am looking forward to working together with the local authorities, the national federation, to make cycling grow even more.

Soham Shah is a correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with experience in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous, research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Experience Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune. Specialization: Its main objective is education, but it also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights and state policy. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reporting, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Their late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-focused reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human rights stories: 1. Investigations and Governance “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must for downloading birth certificate from PMC site” (December 20, 2025) – Reports on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following its reports previous statements on the inclusion of gender in administrative documents. “44-acre Mahar land controversy: In June, a Pune official sought land eviction at the firm behest of Pawar’s son” (November 9, 2025) – An investigative article on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education and University Life Faculty crisis at SPPU affects research and administrative work: 62% of government approved posts are vacant, more than 75% in many departments (September 12, 2025) – A research paper on faculty vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why the National Curriculum Framework recommends a Class 6 third language” (July 2) – This in-depth article discusses the reasons behind why the state’s decision to introduce a Class 1 third language was controversial. “Decline in number of schools and teachers in Maharashtra but increase in student enrollment: Report” (January 2025): Analysis of discrepancies in state’s education data despite increase in the number of students. 3. Human Rights and Social Issues “Aanchal Mamidawar Was Brave After Her Family Killed Her Boyfriend” (December 17, 2025) – A deeply personal and hard-hitting article/opinion column on the “crime of love” and honor killings in modern India. “‘People don’t respect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become the face of racist attacks against Indians” (November 29, 2025) – Profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online bullying, highlighting issues of disability and cyberbullying. Distinctive style Soham is known for his vision of civil liberties. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized, whether students fighting for university democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents fighting crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune”). He is adept at linking Pune’s hyperlocal issues to broader national conversations about law and freedom. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 …Read more

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