Photo: Courtesy of RCU
World-renowned cyclists and teams will soon take to AlUla for an exciting competition. The AlUla Tour, which is the rebranded fourth edition of the Saudi Tour, will take place from January 30 to February 4, bringing together 119 cyclists from 17 teams, including from the UCI World Tour and Continental Tour.
The five-stage tour is part of the UCI Asia Tour and AlUla Moments sporting season, and is organized by the Ministry of Sport and The Royal Commission for AlUla in cooperation with the Saudi Cycling Federation and the International Cycling Union (UCI). The final lineup of the teams, cyclists, and stages of the 2024 AlUla Tour will be announced at the end of the year.
Photo: Courtesy of RCU
Cycling tours are not new to the Kingdom, given that Saudi has played host to seven professional events since the inaugural one in 1999, and went on to join the UCI Asia Tour in 2020. “The AlUla Tour has emerged as a major local, regional, and international event in recent years,” says Abdullah bin Ali Al Wathlan, chairman of the Saudi Cycling Federation and vice chairman of the Arab Cycling. “We look forward to welcoming the sport’s best cyclists in one of the sport’s most unique locations, showcased to the world. The AlUla Tour, alongside our global cycling partners, is creating a legacy in this country with more and more people getting access to a sustainable sport that is inspiring people to move, be active and healthy.”
Besides professionals, the Royal Commission of AlUla is also encouraging participation from all walks of life, with two mass participation rides taking place alongside the AlUla Tour for juniors and the wider public. “We are just about to open our brand new 45km bike track for road cyclists which is set to be one of most stunning dedicated cycling routes in the world,” says Phillip Jones, RCU chief tourism officer. “We really believe AlUla has the potential to become the cycling capital of Saudi Arabia as we create more opportunities for people to watch, be inspired and ride with one the country’s fastest growing sports.”
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