Li Ning Star were a rider short – just 5, not 6 – and they were brutally attacked on the final climb, described as the pivotal stage of the race, and Mudgway stressed the win might not have materialised if not for his flankers. Two of his teammates, in fact, committed themselves to chasing and hassling rivals, allowing the climbers to focus on the ascent. As such, more than the last climb, the steep descent needed dexterity and control as it was steep, narrow and dangerous. And Mudgway showed a finishing flourish that left a bunch of frustrated Belgian and Spanish teams in his wake. But the Kiwi has previously distributed the plaudits too.

Stage winner Mudgway Luke of Li Ning Stars got yellow Jersey during stage one of the Pune Grand Tour 2026 held in the City of Pune on the 20th January 2026. (GCT)

Growing up in a sporting family on a Palmerston farm with his father and brothers in sport, Mudgway chose cycling. In 2022, he lost his grandfather whom he termed his biggest supporter. A junior world track medal brought him under the Black Spokes professional coaching set-up, and his wins there too saw other rider roles being acknowledged.

Team player

At Li Ning after his early triumphs in China and Sharjah, Mudgway has ensured the pursuit of a yellow jersey is a collective goal.

His 11-year professional career has hardly been a smooth ride. Suffering is constant in this sport. Just when he struck some rhythm, back in 2022, he was down with appendicitis in Belgium. At other times, assorted maladies from lung infections to accidents have dragged him down. But even in his downers, he has rooted for others on the team to carry on winning.

One of his nastiest accidents occurred last year when a bracket broke in his headset, pushing his steerer tube into the hydraulic cable locking the front brake while he was gliding at 50kph. It sent him flying over the bars and the X-ray revealed an arm fracture that truncated his last season.

Luke grew up in New Zealand where his father was an athlete, but he chose cycling and got mighty good by his teens, with a World title on track.

The Pune wins are special, because back on resumption, the Kiwi is flying towards podiums now, on Wednesday taking both the green (fastest sprinter) and yellow jerseys. His plan for the next two days? “Set it up for our two specialist sprinters.”

At his recent wedding in December to Gaia, Mudgway donned the same tux as his four best men, and his choice of favourite all-time cricketers is also a team man who blended into the pacers pack, and struck lethal bowling combines with Tim Southee, securing several wins for the Black Caps.

“Trent Boult,” Mudgway, with a growing cult of fans, says.

They call him a Tank back home, and Punekars along the Maratha Heritage Circuit have definitely taken a liking to him, as crowds chant “Luke Luke Luke” after his beaming face hit the local newspapers.

Still, not many expected him to hold off the strong climbers and sprinters from Spanish giants, Burgos team. With the heart and courage of a Hobbit, ‘Mudge’ did both. He even pipped an Aussie to the post – Allan Carter Bettles of Team Roojai.