India is on the verge of a landmark moment in global cycling. Sources indicate that Pune is heavily favoured to host the 2032 UCI Road World Championships.
The formal decision is expected next week at the UCI Congress in Montreal, Canada, where the 2026 Road World Championships are currently underway.
India’s bid, centred on Pune, is competing against a proposal from Groningen and the Drenthe region in the Netherlands. UCI leadership is reportedly prepared to recommend India, making the outcome widely viewed as a near certainty.
If confirmed, it would mark the first time the world’s most populous country hosts the Road World Championships and only the fourth occasion the event has been staged in Asia. Abu Dhabi is already scheduled to host in 2028.
In January 2026, Pune successfully staged the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour—the country’s first-ever UCI-sanctioned multi-stage race (Class 2.2). The four-stage, 437 km event drew international teams and riders, showcasing improved infrastructure, organisational capacity, and local enthusiasm in a city once known as India’s “cycle capital.”
A UCI inspection team recently surveyed Pune’s routes and facilities as part of the 2032 bid process.