Pune, Jan 22 (.) Luke Mudgway of Li Ning Star (China) continued his dominant run at the Pune Grand Tour 2026, winning Stage 2 on Wednesday to retain the overall cycling race lead after a gruelling 105.3km Maratha Heritage Circuit.
The New Zealand rider clocked 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 49 seconds on a stage defined by sustained climbs and a technical finale, sealing his second successive stage victory and holding on to the Yellow Jersey as the five-day race moved deeper into Maharashtra, as per Olympics.com.
Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed (Thailand) finished second, while Belgium’s Yorben Lauryssen (Tarteletto-Isorex) claimed third to secure his second consecutive podium finish. The top six riders were awarded the same time, with the final placings decided by a photo finish.
Clement Alleno and Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH (Spain) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, while Stefan Benetton of Eurocyclingtrips-CCN (Guam) rounded out the top six.
Under UCI 2.2 regulations, Mudgway earned a 10-second time bonus, with Bettles and Lauryssen collecting six and four seconds respectively, further strengthening Mudgway’s advantage in the general classification.
“It was a hot day with lots of climbing, but I survived to the finish and got to sprint from a small group again,” Mudgway said. “That suits me well, and I’m happy I could pull it off once more.”
Mudgway also praised his team’s effort despite being a rider short. “The team controlled the race really well. The sprinters worked hard so the climbers could rest, and they brought it back close enough before the final climbs,” he added.
The race was shaped by aggressive attacks on the final second-category climb, followed by a fast and technical descent that stretched the peloton ahead of the sprint finish.
In the classification battles, Benetton claimed the Polka Dot Jersey for the mountains classification, while Sainbayar retained the Orange Jersey as the best Asian rider. Dutch cyclist Tijssen Viego of Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam took over the White Jersey for best young rider, and Sarda Manav of the Indian Development Team continued to lead the home contingent, holding the Blue Jersey as the top Indian rider.
Stage 3, titled the Western Ghats Gateway, will take place on Thursday. The 134km route from Purandar to Baramati includes 1,024 metres of elevation gain and is expected to present a different tactical challenge with rolling terrain and potential crosswinds.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is India’s first UCI-classified 2.2 multi-stage men’s road race. Spanning 437km, the event features 171 riders from 29 teams representing 35 countries and concludes on Friday. As a UCI-sanctioned race, it also offers valuable ranking points towards qualification for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
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