Kiwi Cyclist Wins Pune Tour, Credits His 5-Person Team

A professional cyclist just won one of India's toughest races, and his first move was to thank the teammates who got him there.

Luke Mudgway from New Zealand captured both the yellow jersey for overall victory and the green jersey for fastest sprinter at the Pune Grand Tour this week. But the Li Ning Star rider insists he couldn't have done it without his squad working together through brutal climbs and dangerous descents.

"My teammates did an amazing job today," Mudgway said after crossing the finish line. "I had one of them with me after the first climb. He rode me to the finish, and then I got to sprint."

His team faced extra challenges throughout the two-day race. Li Ning Star competed with only five riders instead of the usual six, making strategic positioning even harder. When rivals attacked on the pivotal final climb, two of Mudgway's teammates sacrificed their own chances by chasing down competitors, allowing him to focus on the ascent.

The decision paid off during the steep, narrow descent that followed. Mudgway showed the control and speed needed to leave frustrated Belgian and Spanish teams behind.

This wasn't the first time the Kiwi cyclist has shared glory. Growing up on a Palmerston farm in a sporting family, Mudgway learned early that teams win together. After earning a junior world track medal, he joined the Black Spokes professional coaching program and carried that same collaborative spirit into his 11-year pro career.

Why This Inspires

The road hasn't always been smooth for Mudgway. In 2022, he lost his grandfather and biggest supporter while battling appendicitis during a race in Belgium. Last year, a horrific accident at 50kph sent him flying over his handlebars when his bike's headset broke, fracturing his arm and ending his season early.

Through every setback, Mudgway encouraged his teammates to keep winning. Now back on top after his December wedding to wife Gaia, he's already planning ahead for the final two stages of the tour.

His goal for the remaining race days? "Set it up for our two specialist sprinters."

Local crowds along Pune's Maratha Heritage Circuit have embraced the humble champion, chanting "Luke Luke Luke" as his smiling face fills newspaper pages. Back home in New Zealand, they call him "Tank" for his strength and determination.

The collective spirit Mudgway brings to cycling reflects something deeper about New Zealand's sporting culture. Whether it's the All Blacks in rugby or the Black Caps in cricket, Kiwi athletes are known for team-first attitudes and sharing credit generously.

In a sport that can be as individual as a rider wants it to be, Mudgway chose teamwork and won big.