Preview of AlUla Tour 2024 | The pressure is on for Groenewegen, Yates and Jayco AlUla

In recent years, the Middle East and the peloton have become increasingly intertwined. With teams like UAE-Team Emirates, Bahrain Victorious, and Jayco AlUla originating from the region, and the Saudi Tour taking the place of the Tour of Qatar alongside the UAE Tour in recent years. From now on, however, it will be known as the AlUla Tour, and IDLProCycling.com is here to give you all the insights!

The first edition of the renewed stage race in Saudi Arabia took place in 2020, only featuring stages suited for sprinters. Phil Bauhaus won the general classification that year, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe. As a result, the race was canceled in 2021, but it returned in 2022 with a revamped course.

From then on, punchers dominated for two years straight, with Lotto-Dstny talent Maxim Van Gils emerging as the winner and Movistar's Portuguese rider Ruben Guerreiro as the most recent victor. Last year, he beat Davide Formolo and Santiago Buitrago, who had also finished second the previous season, in the overall classification.

Recent winners of the AlUla Tour (formerly Saudi Tour)

2023 Ruben Guerreiro
2022 Maxim Van Gils
2021 Not ridden
2020 Phil Bauhaus

AlUla Tour 2024: Route, stage favorites, and times

Stage 1, Tuesday, January 30, 2024: Al Manshiyah Train Station - Al Manshiyah Train Station (149.1 km)

The AlUla Tour kicks off with a nearly 150-kilometer stage around Al Manshiyah Train Station. It's a predominantly flat route, where sprinters will keep a keen eye on the wind and aim to race for the stage victory.

Favorites
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 12:35 p.m. (10:35 a.m. Central European Time)
Finish: 4:35 p.m. (2:35 p.m. Central European Time)

Stage 2, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024: Winter Park - Sharaan Nature Reserve (199.1 km)

On day two, the riders face the longest stage of the tour. They will race nearly 200 kilometers, starting near Winter Park and finishing in the Sharaan Nature Reserve. The finish is an uphill climb (four kilometers at three percent), so this stage is a highlight for strong sprinters traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Favorites
Bryan Coquard (Cofidis)
Luka Mezgec (Jayco AlUla)
Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious)

Times
Start: 11:20 a.m. (09:20 a.m. Central European Time)
Finish: 4:15 p.m. (02:15 p.m. Central European Time)

Stage 3, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024: AlUla International Airport - AlUla Camel Cup Track (170.6 km)

On Thursday, the third stage of the Saudi stage race begins at the AlUla International Airport. The finish is near the AlUla Camel Cup Track, where a tricky little hill in the final circuit warms up the legs for a (presumed) sprint.

Favorites
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Casper van Uden (dsm-firmenich PostNL)

Times
Start: 12:00 pm (10:00 am Central European Time)
Finish: 4:15 pm (2:15 pm Central European Time)

Stage 4, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024: Hegra - Maraya (142.2 km)

The penultimate stage looks like a sprinter's day. Starting from Hegra, there are 142 flat kilometers to be covered, ending at Maraya.

Favorites
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan Team)

Times
Start: 1:25 p.m. (11:25 a.m. Central European Time)
Finish: 4:45 p.m. (2:45 p.m. Central European Time)

Stage 5, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024: AlUla Old Town - Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid (150.2 km)

The crucial stage, for the past two years, has been situated around the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, consistently delivering an intriguing race. This is largely due to a two-kilometer-long climb, rising at more than twelve percent in the last fifteen kilometers, where the stronger climbers have typically been able to separate themselves from the rest. After that, there are still eight flat kilometers to cover.

Favorites
Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla)
Finn Fisher-Black (UAE-Team Emirates)
Davide Formolo (Movistar)

Times
Start: 12:35 p.m. (10:35 a.m. Central European Time)
Finish: 4:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. Central European Time)

Favorites for the general classification in the 2024 AlUla Tour

Note: the participant list is not yet complete and/or officially confirmed. Therefore, adjustments may still be made.

Jayco AlUla is bringing Simon Yates as their main man to the AlUla Tour, with a singular objective: to win the overall classification. The British rider is joined by Lucas Hamilton, his primary climbing support, and after the Tour Down Under, he is also expected to compete in this other home race of the team, the AlUla Tour. He shares the leadership with sprinter Dylan Groenewegen.

There are certainly challengers too. Movistar is leaving defending champion Ruben Guerreiro at home, but is bringing new addition Davide Formolo to Saudi Arabia. The Italian, who moved from UAE-Team Emirates, is placed alongside punchers like Matteo Sobrero (BORA-hansgrohe), Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), and Finn Fisher-Black (UAE-Team Emirates) as top contenders.

In the races so far this year, we have also seen young riders make a name for themselves. For this AlUla Tour, we might expect something similar from Henok Mulubhran (Astana Qazaqstan Team), William Junior Leclerf (Soudal Quick-Step), and Ivan Romeo (Movistar).

TotalEnergies is lining up Pierre Latour as their leader, but climbers like Julien Simon and Fabien Doubey are also capable of staying in contention on the hills. In that vein, Bryan Coquard of Cofidis, as a sprinter who can climb well, might also be someone to watch. Q36.5, on the other hand, is counting on the likes of Filippo Conca and Gianluca Brambilla.

In a scenario where echelons become crucial, time trialists such as Nico Denz (BORA-hansgrohe) and Nils Eekhoff (dsm-firmenich PostNL) could even aspire for a good overall classification.

Who are the favorites for the overall classification of the AlUla Tour 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com?

Top favorite: Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla)
Outsiders:Davide Formolo (Movistar), Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates) and Matteo Sobrero (BORA-hansgrohe)
Long shots: Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), Henok Mulubhran (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies), William Junior Leclerf (Soudal Quick-Step), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Ivan Romeo (Movistar)

TV AlUla Tour 2024

Cycling fans are in for a treat with Eurosport broadcasting the AlUla Tour. The race can be watched on the main channel and online platforms (Eurosport.nl and Discovery+), with daily coverage from approximately 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM.