Why did the 2032 World Championships go to India, not the Netherlands?
Rondhuis, who was born and raised in Drenthe, is seeing his life’s work come to fruition. When we spoke with him around 6:30 p.m. local time, the taxi to the Montreal airport was already waiting. However, we seriously doubt whether the energetic cycling organiser will be able to get any sleep on the overnight flight to Amsterdam, given how excited he was after he was able to shout from the rooftops that the World Cycling Championships are coming to the Northern Netherlands.
When asked, Rondhuis took us back to the moment he learned that the World Cup would indeed be held in Groningen and Drenthe. “That was really at the end of the day yesterday. We had submitted a bid for 2032, but we knew pretty quickly that India (the city of Pune, ed.) was doing the same.”
“Over the past two weeks, we’ve received clear signals from the UCI that India was the preferred choice. India is an emerging market in uncharted territory, a new continent they want to get on bikes. It’s a bit like the Rwanda story,” Rondhuis knew it would be difficult to compete with the proposal and rupees coming from Asia.
“Two weeks ago, we decided to engage in dialogue with the UCI. We were in daily contact to see if we could create a situation that would allow us to bring the event here. And it wasn’t until last week that 2034 came into the picture,” continues the man behind the company Courage Events.
Read more below the photo!
Bauke Mollema alongside UCI President David Lappartient in Aigle.
Bauke Mollema was an ambassador for the Dutch bid
Mollema, who will be riding his final World Championships in Montreal on Sunday, also looked sharp in his suit. “My contribution behind the scenes was only a small one. The success is mainly thanks to the organizers and policymakers, who provided truly excellent support. Without that support, it would never have been possible, of course. I find it very special and I’m proud that this World Championship is coming to Groningen and Drenthe, because I still feel connected to the area.”
“I made a great video to showcase the region, and I went along with a delegation to Aigle. They really liked that an active cyclist was part of the group,” he explains. Mollema, who grew up in Zuidhorn, isn’t yet sure what role he’ll play for the event over the next 8 years. “If I can contribute in any way, I’d be happy to. This is close to my heart, and I still feel very connected to the city of Groningen and the region. Whatever I can do to help—they can give me a call.”
Read more below the photo!
Bauke Mollema in Montreal, where he will compete in his final World Championships on Sunday.
Read more below the photo!
India is a country without professional cyclists’
India’s first UCI stage race took place just nine months ago. The Pune Grand Tour ran in January 2026 as a 2.2-ranked race, the lowest level of international stage racing. The World Championships are on another level entirely. They bring the best riders in the world, national teams from dozens of countries and a week of elite, junior and under-23 racing.
There are early signs of support. According to Cyclingnews, around 2.5 million spectators lined the roads during the Pune Grand Tour. The race will move up to 2.1 status in 2027 and expand to six stages. More than £49 million is being invested in new roads.
India hoping for ‘exposure to the highest standards of the sport’
Maninder Pal Singh, secretary general of the Cycling Federation of India, explained what this news meant for India: “For Indian cycling, this is an opportunity to move from participation to performance and from hosting international races to becoming a part of cycling’s global conversation.”
“The years leading to 2032 will be about creating stronger pathways for our athletes, coaches and technical officials, bringing international expertise into India and giving our riders greater exposure to the highest standards of the sport. The Cycling Federation of India is committed to using this opportunity to build an ecosystem that can compete with the best in the world.
Read more below the photo!
India has big Olympic ambitions
The bid is also part of a larger sporting plan. The Indian government wants the 2036 Olympic Games for Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat. Gujarat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state. Ahmedabad will also host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Cycling is a core Olympic sport, so a World Championships gives India a chance to prove it can run a major international event. Singh made that link clear.
“The Pune Grand Tour has changed how we view cycling in this country,” he said. He added that the race was also a chance “to show the world what our country is capable of” in staging and broadcasting sport.
The UCI looking beyond Europe
The decision also fits the UCI’s long-term plan. Its 2030 Agenda aims to spread professional cycling beyond its traditional base in Western Europe.
Recent host choices show that plan at work. In 2025, Kigali in Rwanda became the first African city to host the road Worlds. Abu Dhabi follows in 2028, and Japan is being considered for 2035. Picking India over the Netherlands also avoided a fourth European host in a row.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.