Some of the finest road cyclists from India and around the world have converged in Pune for the inaugural Pune Grand Tour, a Continental multi‑stage UCI 2.2 race for men. Held from January 19 to 23, the event has drawn 171 elite cyclists, representing 29 teams from 35 countries across five continents.
The five‑day, four‑stage race spans 437 kilometres, marking one of the most ambitious road cycling events ever hosted in India. Among those representing the country are riders from the Indian Cycling Team and the Indian Developmental Team — including Pune's own Surya Thathu, who is set to compete on home turf.
Ahead of the Tour's kickoff, Surya spoke with NDTVProfit.com about his sporting beginnings, his switch from skating to cycling, and the preparation that has brought him to one of the biggest races of his career.
Excerpts of the interview are below:
Q. Did you do inline skating before cycling?
Surya: Yes. I used to do inline skating. I played Nationals in the sport and won a medal for Maharashtra.
Q. So what let to your transition from skating to cycling. These are two very different kind of sports?
Surya: These are different sports, but the muscles that we use for both the sports are similar. I started to cycle as part of my cross training but then gradually I moved to cycling. I participated in a few races. I got a few good results. Then the switch happened because there is little government support to skating. Cycling is an Olympic support. It has government support. So I made the switch.
Q. Even in cycling there are multiple formats, indoor cycling, road cycling, mountain bike cycling. How did you end up becoming a road cyclist?
Surya: When I first started, I started with an Indian road bike. It was made of steel with alloy wheels. It was my friend's cycle. He lend it to me. Just for cross training and for few races. I got a few good results. Then I started investing in it a bit.
Then I bought a second-hand Merida bike. I started with it. In 2018 I got a proper carbon bike and then made the proper shift. I stopped skating and I just shifted to this sport seriously.
Q. When did you come to know about the Pune Grand Tour?
Surya: I came to know about it quiet a long time ago. Pratap Jadhav sir, who has the head (President) of the Cycling Association of Maharashtra, he told me that Maharashtra was planning to hold a big cycling event. It was his dream from a very long time to have such a cycling event in Maharashtra.
He gave me a hint that Pune will have a big cycling race.
Q. For how long have you been preparing for the Pune Grand Tour?
Surya: It has been around six to seven months. We knew that the race will happen in Jan. So we all had some small goals in between like the Nationals. We participated in races so that we could collect some CFI (Cycling Federation of India) points. The team for PGT was going to be decided on those rankings.
Q. Have you seen the entire track of PGT?
Surya: Not all the stages, but then there are two, three. I know the stages or some parts of of all the stages. Some of it I don't know. I have previously ridden my bike in the areas which are now part of the route of the race. I know those areas.
Q. So you come from the area which is close to Pune. Now Pune is holding such an elite level cycling race. How are you feeling?
Surya: It feels amazing. There are stages where the finishes (finish line) is very close to my house. Its thrilling to race in front of your your home crowd and then have your friends around. Then they will come to know what actually the cycling is. It is fun, it is great opportunity for Indian cycling as well as well as for Maharashtra Cycling.
Q. So you have competed at the national level and the Asian level. So where does Pune Grand Tour ranks in terms of intensity and diffusivity?
Surya: So I have competed with the same riders at the Asian level but for Pune Grand Tour we will be having riders from Europe as well so yeah it will be difficult.
Q. Any particular overseas racer that we should know about?
Surya: I haven't checked the participation list. But I will have a talk with the coach. I was just focusing on myself more. It scares you more when you keep looking at the people who are participating.
I'll just see whom to mark and whom to attack, and what I have to do. Coach will assign me the role. I have to work accordingly and keep an eye on the people I have told to.
Q. What are your goals from the Pune Grand Tour?
Surya: This is a stage it is, and it's a team event. Cycling is not an individual race. Maybe people know it as an individual race or individual event, but then it's not. It's a team race. It's a team effort. It's not just one rider who end. It's the team who wins.
I want to accomplish all the goals that have been assigned to me. I want to obviously accomplish that help my team,to get maybe to the podium. Maybe at the podium, but then that's a dream to be there. You need some more exposure to be there.
Q. Could you give us an insight into how expensive cycling is as a sport?
Surya: The cycle that I am using currently costs around Rs 10 lakhs. You need a strong family support. I am lucky about this that I have such family members who have supported me blindfolded.
When you go out for racing you need funds. Even when you are training, it requires investments. You need to have sponsors.
Q. What message would you like to send to the people?
Surya: I would just say that be on the course to support us. That would be great. My team and myself would be very grateful for that. It would be amazing if you can just come and support us. It would be amazing to see the speed (of the cycles) and the passion we have for the sport.
It would be amazing to see all the fans there. It would be great, and that's how maybe it will be motivating for us to see our own crowd to see the screams around. Maybe that we can push hard.
Also Read: WPL 2026: Smriti Mandhana-Led RCB Aim To Maintain Perfect Record Against Gujarat Giants
Watch LIVE TV, Get Stock Market Updates, Top Business, IPO and Latest News on NDTV Profit.