Pune, Jan 21 (IANS) Luke Mudgway of Li Ning Star, China, quelled a challenge from Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed, Thailand, as he continued to hold on to the Yellow Jersey in the Pune Grand Tour 2026 at the end of the Second Stage -- the Maratha Heritage Circuit, stretching 105.3 kilometres across Pune district on Wednesday.

The second stage of the event delivered exactly what its billing promised: a bruising examination of endurance, teamwork, and nerve. The Maratha Heritage Circuit, stretching 105.3 kilometres across Pune district, took the race deep into a landscape shaped by forts, steep gradients, and unforgiving descents.

Starting from the Ladies Club in Camp at 12:30 pm and finishing along Sinhagad Road at Nanded City, the stage was designed to stretch the peloton physically and mentally.

At the end of another relentless afternoon, it was once again Luke Mudgway of Li Ning Star, China (02:31:49), who stood tallest. Having claimed Stage One, Mudgway doubled down on his authority by winning the Maratha Heritage Circuit and retaining the Yellow Jersey.

The back-to-back victories have placed him firmly at the top of the general classification battle as the race moves deeper into Maharashtra’s demanding terrain.

Mudgway did not have it all his own way. Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed, Thailand, produced a composed ride to finish second, while Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto–Isorex, Belgium, claimed third. For Lauryssen, it marked a second successive podium finish, underlining his consistency after also finishing third on the opening day.

On virtue of claiming the top spot, Mudgway was handed a 10-second bonus, Beetles earned a six-second bonus, whereas Lauryssen was rewarded a four-second bonus.

It was an intense battle, and the top six riders finished with the same time of 02:31:49. Clement Alleno and Jambaljamts Sainbayar, of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, finished fourth and fifth, Stefan Benett of Eurocyclingtrips – CCN, Guam, stood sixth. The ranking has been awarded based on a photo finish. The ranking has been awarded based on a photo finish.

Speaking after the finish, Mudgway acknowledged the severity of the challenge as the combination of heat and constant climbing turned the stage into a survival battle long before the finish line came into view. “It was a hot day, lots of mountains, but yeah, I survived to the finish, and again I got to do a sprint from a small group. So, that's what suits me well. I'm glad I could execute it again today," Mudgway said.

Mudgway’s victory was as much about collective effort as individual strength. Two teammates committed themselves to chasing duties, allowing the climbers to conserve energy before the decisive phases of the race.

“My teammates did an amazing job today,” Mudgway observed. “We came here with one less rider; we only had five riders, so we knew today was going to be tough to control. We had to control our two sprinters so that we three climbers could rest, and then they brought it back to a close enough time before the second-to-last climb.”

The defining moment came on the final climb, a brutal second-category ascent that proved the steepest of the day. Attacks flew as riders fought to stay in contention. From the crest, the road plunged into a fast, narrow, and highly technical descent that offered little room for error and almost no opportunity to regroup before the finish.

It was here, on what many described as the queen stage of the race, that the strongest riders asserted control, and Mudgway confirmed his growing reputation as the rider to beat.

“Teams started attacking us, but I managed to keep it under control, and then we just followed and followed. I had one of my teammates with me after the first climb; he rode me to the finish, and then I got to sprint again, and I was happy I could finish it off for my team,” Mudgway added.

While the yellow jersey remained with Mudgway, other classifications shifted after a demanding day in the hills. Stefan Benetton of Eurocyclingtrips – CCN, Guam, dominated the climbs to claim maximum points in the King of the Mountains competition, earning the ‘Polka Dot’ Jersey.

The Orange Jersey for the ‘Best Asian Rider’ stayed with Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, whose consistency continued to impress. Dutch rider Tijssen Viego of Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam, Netherlands, was rewarded with the White Jersey as the ‘Best Young Rider’ while Sarda Manav, Indian Development Team, India, topped the domestic contingent to take the Blue Jersey as ‘India’s Leading Performer’ on the day.

With the Maratha Heritage Circuit now complete, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour moves into its longest and most tactically complex phase.

Stage Three, the Western Ghats Gateway, stretches 134 kilometres from Purandar to Baramati and climbs to an elevation of 1,024 metres. Rolling terrain, exposed roads, and the threat of crosswinds promise a different kind of challenge — one that could reshape the race once more.

After two days of attrition, one truth is clear: the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour is demanding far more than speed alone. And for now, Luke Mudgway is answering every question it asks.

--IANS

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