India, June 9 -- The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has pledged support for the development of the Pune Grand Tour (PGT), backing organisers' ambition to establish it as the world's fourth Grand Tour.

At a presentation before the UCI management committee in Lake Garda, Italy, the world governing body for cycling praised the inaugural edition of the race and endorsed its long-term vision.

UCI president David Lappartient assured organisers of the body's support for the event's growth, including sharing expertise in urban mobility planning and strengthening grassroots cycling programmes in India.

A delegation comprising Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi, Cycling Federation of India (CFI) secretary general Maninder Pal Singh and B...