Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) wins General Classification in 2024 AlUla Tour
Germany’s Bora Hansgrohe win overall Team Classification; Team Jayco AlUla finish third place
AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Team Jayco AlUla’s Simon Yates emerged victorious in the fourth edition of the AlUla Tour, formerly known as the Saudi Tour, following an exhilarating five-stage cycling showcase set against the historic and picturesque backdrop of AlUla. In addition to Yates’s General Classification win, Team Jayco AlUla finished third in the overall Team Classification, capping a successful week for the team, who entered the week as the number one ranked team.
The AlUla Tour, spanning more than 800 km across the landscapes of desert surroundings, iconic historical sites, natural oases, and cosmopolitan cultural centers, was a celebration of athleticism and beauty in the surrounding region.
This year’s AlUla Tour was memorable for Team Jayco AlUla, marking a week of triumphs and standout performances. Simon Yates claimed the coveted 1st position in the General Classification, showcasing his prowess as an individual rider on the fifth and final stage. Team Jayco AlUla also secured a podium 3rd place in the Team Classification, highlighting the team’s consistency and collective performance throughout the week.
The first stage of the AlUla Tour began on Tuesday, featuring a 149.1 km route starting and concluding at the AlManshiyah Train Station, retracing the legendary AlUla Railway. The stage set the tempo for the week with early breakaways, sprints, and crashes. Casper Van Uden of DSM Firmenich Post NL emerged victorious in a close finish, with Dylan Groenwegen (Team Jayco AlUla) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quickstep) securing subsequent positions. Q 36.5 Pro Cycling Team topped the team classification after the first stage, with JCL Team UKYO and Bahrain/Victorious following.
The second stage, the longest at 199.1 km, explored the captivating Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, before concluding in the awe-inspiring Sharaan Nature Reserve. Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) led the final attacks one kilometer from the finish, but Uno X reeled him in, ultimately seizing the sprint win with Søren Wærenskjold (Uno X) claiming victory on this challenging leg.
In the third stage, a 170.6 km sprint leg showcased the evolving infrastructure and regional heritage of AlUla, with Tim Merlier triumphing after a strong performance in the Tour’s first stage. Starting at AlUla International Airport and concluding at the Camel Cup Track, the race was defined by crosswinds. Echelons formed on exposed sectors of the road, tearing the race to pieces and catching out many pre-stage favorites. Casper Van Uden took 3rd place, securing him the GC lead via bonus seconds on the line.
The fourth stage, spanning 142.2 km, started at the Nabataean site of Hegra, famous for its 110 beautifully preserved monumental tombs. Along the route, the riders passed by the iconic Elephant Rock, highlighting the geological beauty of AlUla. The race concluded at Maraya, a modern architectural marvel, and was once again won by Tim Merlier who claimed his second individual stage of the AlUla Tour, narrowly beating out Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and also taking back-to-back wins. With his victory in the fourth stage, Merlier moved into the general classification lead heading into the final stage.
The final and fifth stage, covering 150.2 km, started at AlUla Old Town, traversed through AlJadidah Arts District and verdant oases, before concluding with the climb up to the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid. In the fiercely contested final stage, set against the breathtaking backdrop, Simon Yates emerged as the Tour’s General Classification winner, holding off impressive challenges from William LeCerf (Soudal – Quick Step) and Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates), clocking in at 3:24:37 on the final thrilling stage, and also finishing second and third respectively in the overall General Classification.
In the overall Team Classification, team Bora Hansgrohe from Germany finished the week on top, followed by UAE Team Emirates and Team Jayco AlUla securing the 3rd position thanks to solid performances throughout the Tour.
General Classification winner Simon Yates spoke after his victory, saying, “I was a bit nervous, but overall job well done – It’s a very important race for us we’ve come here for AlUla now being a partner of ours, it’s been fantastic to pull it off.”
“Even from the start of the race, I was feeling the pressure to perform here. Once we hit the climb, everyone was watching me. I tried to shake them at first, but I couldn’t get rid of them, and they were stronger than me towards the top. I kind of switched to just looking for the stage at that point. I managed to pull that off, and I think with a bit of luck on the placings, I managed to take the overall classification.”
Gerry Ryan, team owner, and chairman of Team Jayco AlUla, said, “The boys dug in, and this is what we came for, we came here to win and represent our sponsor AlUla, for all their support and belief they had in the team. What a wonderful place to win a great bike race.”
In addition to the race on show this week, AlUla provided numerous opportunities for the community of AlUla to engage with the race, including mass participation rides for school children and the general public to ride alongside the AlUla Tour throughout the week, encouraging future generations to enjoy AlUla on two wheels. AlUla was also honored with the esteemed Arab Bike City Award by the Arab Cycling Federation, acknowledging its investment in cycling infrastructure, unique natural landscapes and location, and world-class event hosting capabilities and logistical capacities, reaffirming its position as a cycling destination.
The Saudi National Team was also competing in the AlUla Tour this week. Standout performances were from Ali Al Shaikhamad, who spent over 70 km in breakaways throughout the race. Hassan Al Ibrahim also impressed this week, featuring in breakaways for over 50 km of the race.
Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer, Royal Commission for AlUla concluded, “Once again, the AlUla Tour has been an overwhelming success that showcased the very best of AlUla to global audiences. The Tour demonstrated unrivaled athleticism from the world’s top athletes in one of the world’s most unique and demanding locations. Special congratulations go to Simon Yates from Team Jayco AlUla for his outstanding victory this week, along with all the cyclists who delivered remarkable performances, reinforcing our status as a premier cycling destination for the world’s best athletes to compete.”
“We also extend heartfelt thanks to the AlUla community for their overwhelmingly positive engagement this week, and look forward to building a legacy of encouraging future generations to embrace everything our beautiful community has to offer on two wheels” said Jones.
“On behalf of the Royal Commission for AlUla, I extend our sincerest thanks to the Saudi Cycling Federation, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sports, and the A.S.O., and to the athletes and behind-the-scenes teams whose contributions made the AlUla Tour the success it has been. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to AlUla in 2025.”
