Mumbai, Dec. 11 -- Pune is gearing up to host a top-tier cycling event, the Pune Grand Tour to be held from January 19-23 next year, and preparations for it are on track and in full swing, said Pune District Collector and administrative incharge, Jitendra Dudi. In a virtual media interaction on Wednesday, Dudi informed that the December 15 deadline to finish the work on the roads, on which 437km race across four stages, is expected to be met. The Maharashtra government has sanctioned approximately Rs.500 crore to elevate the road conditions along the route to meet the global standard. The race comes to India as the country's first Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) approved Class 2.2 competition. The event has attracted some of the top cycling nations, with 176 riders from countries across Europe, Australia and Asia slated to participate. Dudi said the race will mark a significant pitstop in the international cycling calendar, with the sport's governing body UCI looking at India as a big market with a lot of potential. He also signalled a long-term ambition of upgrading the race in the years to come. He added that with India's ambition to host the Olympics in 2036, staging a top cycling event successfully will only help in adding to the list of the country hosting big-ticket tournaments across sports. Yash Mumbai Eagles edged past SG Pipers Bengaluru 51-49 on the second day of the Tennis Premier League in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Riya Bhatia handed the Eagles an early advantage with a 17-8 win against Shrivalli Bhamidipaty. Bengaluru's Shrivalli and Rohan Bopanna then secured a 14-11 mixed doubles win over Shrivalli and Niki Poonacha. Bengaluru's Ramkumar Ramanathan then beat Damir Dzumhur 15-10 in singles, before Poonacha and Dzumhur combined to beat Ramkumar and former world No.1 Bopanna in men's doubles to secure the close tie for Mumbai....