Pune Grand Tour | 'Never seen such a big crowd': How India and Indians embrace cycling

TimesofIndia.com in Pune: It was 12:38 pm on Thursday afternoon here. Clutching the metal barrier, a mother-son duo stood rooted among a swelling queue of spectators who had just witnessed a spectacular flag-off.

As people around them began to disperse, the mother asked a passerby in Marathi, “Won’t they come again?” The reply was a simple shake of the head: “No.”

Disappointed, she held her son’s arm and soon disappeared into a sea of countless heads at Chandan Tekadi, Saswad Municipal Council, where the narrow two-lane road through which the cyclists rolled is usually lined with vegetable and fruit vendors.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On this afternoon, there was nothing but people, packed shoulder to shoulder for a glimpse of something unfamiliar yet magnetic.

For many, “Pune Grand Tour” may not have meant UCI points, but it was a break from their routine life, with a sporting spectacle unfolding in their city.

“Never seen such a big crowd in my entire life,” said Cameron Nicholas Scott, still wide-eyed, after winning Stage 3 of the Pune Grand Tour.

As the peloton surged into Baramati and approached the finish at Vidya Pratishthan, Pencil Chowk, the frequent roars from the crowd were heard from a few kilometres away.

Scott of Li Ning Star, China, clocked 03:04:13 to edge out Georgios Bouglas of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain. Timothy Dupont of Tarteletto–Isorex, Belgium, completed the podium.

Despite missing the podium, Mudgway retained the Yellow Jersey as overall leader and also claimed the Green Jersey for best sprinter.

Nevertheless, away from the numbers and jerseys, what stood out was the reaction of the teams experiencing India for the first time.

When asked about his experience in India, a French team member, struggling for words, simply smiled and said, “Good, good.”

Amalia Langham, manager of Australia’s Nex Velofit, was more expressive, though. “It’s been such a good experience. Everyone’s really hospitable. People are always offering a helping hand,” she told TimesofIndia.com on the sidelines of the Pune Grand Tour.

From a competitive standpoint, she felt the organisers had exceeded expectations.

“The roads are beautiful. The boys are loving the racing. It’s a big field; it has a bit of everything. We really appreciate the invite and the opportunity to race here. We’ve loved every minute and hope to come back next year,” she added.

Asked about areas of improvement, Langham paused and kept her smile on. “Honestly, it’s really hard to find negatives. Even traffic management has been a pleasant surprise. The roads are clear. Anything you need, the organisers are ready to help.”

The English team Schils–Doltcini, competing with a depleted lineup after crashes and illness, was equally appreciative of the hosting standards.

“The hosts have been great. We get looked after nicely,” Sports director Mike Cross said this website. “The racing is hard, but it’s good."

However, Cross pointed out that the logistical demands of a multi-stage race in a new cycling market posed challenges, particularly the long transfers between stages.

“Today was quite a big transfer and this evening is going to be a really, really big transfer home,” he said. “That’s six hours in the day in a car, and that’s not ideal for racing.”

While acknowledging the strain on riders, Cross framed it as part of the learning curve for a first edition. “That’s something that can be worked on,” he added. “They’ve learned long and hard already, and with experience, these things get better. Overall, it’s been good. For a first edition, they’ve done a really solid job.”

From Asia, the Philippines’ Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team found themselves energised by the atmosphere.

Assistant sports director Ryan said, “A lot of people are waiting on the roads. They don’t care about the heat or humidity. They just want to witness this phenomenal event.”

He described the organisation as “phenomenal” and felt the level of competition, for an inaugural UCI 2.2 race in India, was “really tough”.

Back in Saswad and Baramati, long after the riders had vanished down the road, many spectators lingered, some discussing the race, others simply soaking in the moment.

For them, the Pune Grand Tour may have passed in a flash. But the memory of finding a spot at the front row of the crowd is something that is destined to linger far longer.


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