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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.
A recurring feature of most of New Zealand’s big wins in cricket tends to be that it’s hardly ever one hero who wins them games. It always tends to be a collective effort with brilliant bits and pugnacious pieces. Over the last two days, Kiwi cyclist Luke Mudgway has proved that the musketeer approach isn’t restricted to cricket or rugby. New Zealanders win yellow jerseys in cycling too, and pass abundant credit onto teammates, displaying how strategic teamwork is in a seemingly individual sport.
Road cycling can be as individualistic as a rider wants it to be – his bike, his wattage, his destiny. But despite winning clutch finishes in sprints after two tough relentless days in Pune, Mudgway acknowledged – like every single time he wins – how he was lifted by one of his mates in the toughest moments. “My teammates did an amazing job today. I had one of them with me after the first climb. He rode me to the finish, and then I got to sprint, and I’m happy I could finish off for my team again,” he explained.
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.
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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.
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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.
Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More
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