Estonian road cyclist Taavi Kamimae was the oldest rider to turn professional, after his training buddies in the national team, persuaded to sign up for the start of the season. “I had just turned pro and was very excited to start the season. This was my life’s first ever race, and I read up everything about Pune. And then Boom!” he narrates. A crash of the second lead pack at the Pune Grand Tour, which impacted an estimated 30 riders, near Golvan village, caused a nasty pile-up, as India’s first UCI 2.2 race got off to a scalding start at the quarter way mark. Kamimae says he was furiously chasing the bunch at around 70 kph, and ended up leaping over the pile of fallen cyclists and landed with a thud. “There were more serious injuries than mine, so I didn’t bother the medical team who were rushing to tend to them,” he recalls, the moments that made his first race unforgettable. An official statement said no serious injuries or hospitalisation were reported, though Malaysian Abdul Halil Mohd Izzst couldn’t complete the race. Two other cyclists Enzo Caparoli and Marti Casanovas needed to change their bike, while Indian Dhruv Dahiya copped a hard blow on his face. Veteran Indian rider Naveen John saw his bike severely mangled, and two dozen others saw assorted bruisings to bike and rider. The race was neutralized (paused for safety issues, and results adjusted) for 23 minutes, and resumed after the battered bikers were patched back in ambulances. Riders gliding through the village area on the Stage 1 of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026. (Pune GCT) Both organisers and riders themselves were keen to reassure that such accidents are fairly common. Kamimae recalled the chronology of how it all went down in a heap. “It was just before the first climb and a huge number of riders were jostling to take the lead. It was a straight stretch but slightly narrow, and as happens in nervous first stages, one must’ve toppled and then everyone behind collapsed. It was also because we were going at high speed and lots of heavy braking happened,” he narrated. The crash was the start of the brutal challenge (Day 2 climbs are touted to be even more wicked), because the race was paused just before a big climb. “The body cooled down and my limbs were screaming when climbing,” Kamimae said. “It was scary, exhausting and I kept to one side post that. But that’s cycling,” he reiterated. Another rider who copped torrid luck but escaped with a chuckle and blue-black sores, a broken bike and a funny story to tell was Dutchman Bart Jacob Buijk. “I was a little at the back of the group. It always happens… someone crashes and everybody piles up. It was a big group at high speed trying to get a good position ahead of the climb. I tried to maneuver around 10 people and happily avoided everyone on the floor. But then someone came at high speed from behind and crashed straight into me. My bike was broken. I’ve been racing for 15 years and with that comes the wisdom to stay back and avoid this chaos. But then, that’s the dark side of bike racing. Riders will always make a race as dangerous as it can be,” Jacob explains. Also Read | Pune Grand Tour: Cyclists gear up for the unknown — a climb before end of second stage Post the crash, things settled down, and it’s not exactly fashionable in cycling to blame the hosting roads. “Look, the tarmac itself was very good. Back roads in Europe are definitely worse than this. But if you invite 171 people and a climb is coming up, this is to be expected. First stages of a race see every rider fancy himself to be in contention so it gets very cut-throat and nervy.Story continues below this ad Kamimae, not wanting to aggravate his first race experience simply recalibrated his expectations. “After the crash, I dropped away from the main bunch. Then I started noticing the scenery. It was like the Savanahs from nature movies,” said the professional ‘forest grower.’ “When someone cuts a forest in Estonia, we go plant trees. They will only yield results after 100 years, but we have to ensure it stays green,” he says. Road racing was a hobby. “But I trained as hard as the pro risers. I guess I’ll never forget Pune after the crash,” he said. India’s best finisher Harshveer Singh Sikhon slammed the brakes hard and avoided the worst of it. “Road was narrow and everyone was trying to speed. I was OK but most of my teammates crashed and rhythm was broken. Naveen damaged his bike. But it was an experience,” he said of a racing stage that was to test on sharp turns instead. In a post-crash, post-race travesty, a Malaysian rider crashed after the finish line after getting tangled in the finish tape. A Spaniard couldn’t deceleration after the finish, and heavily banged his knee.Story continues below this ad For a race that has hyped the Day 2 climb with 15 km to go, Day 1 got warningly volatile. “By Stage 2, it’s pretty clear who’s contending for the crown, so hopefully fewer go crazy ahead of the official climbs,” a rider said. Stage winner Mudgway Luke of Li Ning Stars got yellow Jersey during stage one of the Pune Grand Tour 2026 held in the City of Pune on the 20th January 2026. (GCT) Kiwi wins Kiwis just can’t seem to lose in India. Luke Mudgway of Team Li Ning Star China, took the Day 1 honours of the yellow jersey, after a fierce sprint to get home in 2:00.21 hours, fending off Estonian Andreas Matildas (2:00.27), as two of his teammates set up the finish for him, with several attacks on the climbs. “I think this was a really special win for me and I’ve been racing for 11 years. It was my first race of the season and the amount of Pune people that came to cheer us in the last 15 was truly unforgettable. The atmosphere was incredible,” he said. Acing the technical climb ups and steep downs, he completed the fast finish, warding off small groups of 15 post the crash at the quarterway mark. “I knew it was dangerous so I stayed in the front,” he said.Story continues below this ad Luke grew up in New Zealand where his dad was an athlete, but he chose cycling and got mighty good by his teens, with a World title on track. “It’s a hard sport, but I have a great team,” he said. Pune’s heat wasn’t particularly intimidating. “I’m coming off a NZ summer. I train in Spain, but I went home to get married,” he said. Mudgway loves cricket, and his Test and ODI teams have completed series wins in India recently. So, who’s his favourite cricketer? “Trent Boult,” he declares.
‘No serious’ injuries after crash on Day 1 of Pune Grand Tour
