Pune Grand Tour Brings European Flair to Indian Cycling
The Pune Grand Tour kicked off with great excitement. This event marks India's largest international cycling race to date. Over 171 riders from around the world are participating. They compete across four challenging stages on newly improved routes.
From Roller Skates to Racing Bikes
Surya Thathu, a 27-year-old Kashmiri Pandit, now calls Pune home. He recently made a significant career shift. Thathu moved from roller skating to road cycling. He earned a spot on the Indian team as a sprint specialist.
"Just like France," Thathu remarked during a trial run. He admired the stunning vistas and jagged rock faces along the route. His voice crackled with pride as he described the experience.
Inspiring Conversions in Sport
Harshveer Singh Sekhon from Ludhiana pioneered this transition. He first found success as a skater, even competing at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Later, he switched to cycling after encouragement from senior riders in Punjab.
"They motivated me to achieve what they couldn't in sport," Sekhon said. His father played kabaddi, and his mother played hockey. Seniors lent him their expensive bikes, helping him sync with the sport from day one.
The late CFI vice president Pratap Jadhav played a key role. He helped Thathu secure a premium carbon fibre cycle from GIANT's India pointman Pravin Patil. This support facilitated Thathu's permanent shift to cycling.
Overcoming Challenges and Family Expectations
Thathu's journey wasn't easy. His family, like many Kashmiri Pandit families, valued academics over sports. "All doctors or engineers. Very academics oriented. Sport had no chance," he recalled.
He secretly convinced his mother to lend him money for a better bike. After a surprising fourth-place finish at an inter-University event in 2021, he gathered courage. Thathu told his father, "Dad, ab 40,000 ki bike leni hogi." This moment turned emotional, bridging their understanding.
An accident in October 2022 tested his resolve. A truck hit him from behind on Pune roads, breaking his scapula. Yet, he bounced back, winning inter-university bronze within two months. "Road cycling was addictive, like that," he laughed.
Reviving Pune's Cycling Heritage
The Pune Grand Tour revives an old connection to cycling. The historic Bombay-Poona race, once iconic as the Deccan Queen, traversed the old highway. Now, the Grand Tour winds through urban sprawls, echoing shadows of historical monuments.
Pune has long embraced two-wheelers like bikes and scooties. The humble cycle got sidelined on notorious roads. However, this event brings it back into focus, with modern carbon fibre bikes replacing old steel frames.
International Teams and Local Talent
Many professional riders have descended on Pune from around the world. Fancied teams include Spain, Li Ning of China, and Malaysian Terengganu. Team India, calling itself the "Hit Squad," boasts talented riders like serial national champ Naveen John and sprint ace Sahil.
On Monday, despite traffic disruptions, another skater-turned-cyclist, Hashveer Singh Sekhon, achieved the best finishes among Indians in the prologue. This event functions like F1's pole position, setting the stage for intense competition.
The Pune Grand Tour ambitiously hosts a road race that looks and feels like the famous pelotons of Europe. Pro team and national squad riders have flown in from sub-zero temperatures to start their season early. Pune rekindles its old romance with cycling, crowned "Ghaatancha Raja" or King of the Climbs.
Thathu loves the feeling of riding in a group peloton and breaking away. He recalls early morning rides from Pimpri to Balewadi or Viman Nagar, like every Pune kid on a bicycle. His journey from a second-hand Merida bike to professional racing symbolizes the growing passion for cycling in India.
