The AlUla Tour brings WorldTour squads to the Arabian desert for an early-season stage race that mixes sprint finishes with punchy climbs.
The AlUla Tour is a five-day ProSeries stage race held each January in northwest Saudi Arabia. Organized by ASO, the race runs through the ancient desert landscapes around AlUla and typically features a mix of flat sprint stages and hilly finishes that reward versatile riders.
Organized by ASO and launched in the 2020s, the race has quickly drawn a strong WorldTour field each winter.
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This is early-season racing in an unusual setting, where European teams test winter form against desert heat and wind. The route typically offers something for sprinters, puncheurs, and climbers across five days, making it a proving ground for riders still finding their legs in January. The backdrop is striking: sandstone cliffs, archaeological sites, and long stretches of open desert that can splinter the peloton when the wind picks up.
The AlUla Tour usually unfolds across five stages that balance opportunity. Expect at least one or two flat sprint stages where positioning and leadout discipline matter, and at least one or two stages with punchy climbs or uphill finishes that put pressure on the general classification. The desert terrain can introduce crosswinds on exposed roads, and the heat in late January, while milder than summer, still tests riders coming from European winter. The race is typically won by a climber or puncheur who can survive the sprint stages without losing time and then gain seconds on the hillier days. Time gaps are usually small, so bonus seconds at stage finishes and consistent placement across all five days often decide the final podium.
Five-day stage race in northwest Saudi Arabia, mixing sprint finishes with punchy desert climbs.
January. One of the first races on the calendar, a winter form test in desert heat.
A versatile rider who can climb on the punchy stages and limit losses on sprint days. Bonus seconds often decide.
Most recent winner: Thomas Pidcock
The race launched as part of the growing Middle Eastern early-season block and immediately stood out for its desert setting.
Thomas Pidcock gave the race one of its highest-profile overall victories, reinforcing its value as an early-season proving ground.
His overall win gave the race a modern star result and suited the blend of punchy climbs and technical versatility.
A rider of Yates' stage-race pedigree winning here helped legitimize the event as more than a desert opener.
The ancient desert landscapes around AlUla provide the backdrop.
Sandstone canyons and open desert roads where crosswinds can split the peloton.
Short, punchy climbs that create GC separation without requiring alpine endurance.
