Former India captain MS Dhoni has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, a landmark event marking India’s entry into the global professional cycling circuit. The five-day international road cycling race will be held in Pune from January 19 to 23, 2026, placing the city on the world cycling map.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026 will be India’s first UCI-recognised 2.2 category Continental Road Cycling Race for men. Covering a challenging 437 km route across the Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range, the race will test riders with varied terrain and elevation. The event will feature 171 cyclists from 29 teams representing 35 countries, including top international squads.
Dhoni’s association is expected to boost the event’s visibility and inspire young athletes to pursue cycling professionally. Organised by the Pune District Administration under the Cycling Federation of India and the Government of Maharashtra, the race aims to revive Pune’s identity as India’s ‘Cycle Capital’ while promoting rural tourism and elite sport.
