Pidcock dominates in AlUla with 'best 5- and 10-minute records' and a brutal solo after wrong information

Tim Merlier wins the sprints in AlUla, and Tom Pidcock when it goes uphill. The 25-year-old British rider recorded his second stage victory in the fourth stage of the AlUla Tour on Friday, securing his lead in the GC. He owed that to a solo, which turned out to be a bit tougher than previously expected.

The fourth stage to Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid included the every-year dreaded climb from Winter Park, 2.9 kilometers long at a 12.0 percent average! Pidcock had shown himself to be the strongest climber two days earlier on the Bir Jaydah Mountain Wirkah, so he went at it early. He broke away from his competitors and reached the top of the plateau with 25 seconds to spare.

"That climb was so steep that I just started riding my own pace," Pidcock analyzed afterward in the flash interview. "The attack is sometimes the best defense because there is normally a tailwind on that last stretch. At least that's what I was told, but the wind blew head-on."

Read more below the photo.

Tom Pidcock as stage winner on day 2 and so again on day 4

Pidcock had to dig deep in last flat section

"Those were still eight long kilometers," laughed Pidcock, who no doubt was cursing at the person giving the information on stage 4 for a moment. "I don't know how well those four behind me worked together, but sitting there alone after a long day... Plus, I like to get out of the saddle, but not at fifty an hour. It was a long journey, but I'm happy to have extended my lead. That gives us a little more buffer for tomorrow."

As such, it was mostly the acceleration on the climb that stuck. "I worked hard for efforts like this. I broke my best five- and 10-minute records this week, so I'm obviously in good shape. I'm also super happy with this start to the season. It will still be windy on Saturday, so a stressful day. It's not over yet, but we couldn't have done much more than this."

Pidcock slowly heading toward double digits on palmares

With two stage wins in AlUla, Pidcock has won seven times on the road. Before coming to the desert on behalf of his new team, Q36.5, there were five wins on the list. Those were mostly big fish, though, with the Brabantse Pijl (2021), a stage wins on Alpe d'Huez (2022), stage wins in the Algarve and Strade Bianche (2023), and the Amstel Gold Race (2024). What will follow in 2025?

Read also

Pidcock mania at AlUla Tour: Brit outclasses contenders and claims victory in the fourth stage

Plapp finished sixth at Tour Down Under with broken wrist, medical staff Jayco-AlUla steps in after all

The course Is too tough, prices are skyrocketing, and now there’s war: Is the World Championship in Rwanda dying a quiet death?

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe