AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – February 3, 2023
The Saudi Cycling Federation team signed off from the 2023 Saudi Tour in the beautiful setting of AlUla with some priceless racing experience under their belts, having competed alongside world-class cyclists and teams in some of the most stunning cycling terrain in the world.
Stage five offered a fitting finale after four gruelling stages around the ancient desert city. The 142.9km sprint took the peloton through the streets of AlUla Old Town and AlJadidah’s arts and culture district, before passing the farms and verdant oases of the area and moving through Hegra, Saudi’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
The riders needed all their skill to navigate a tricky gravel section at pace, before finishing with a sprint in front of the architectural wonder that is Maraya, the iconic mirrored building and multi-purpose entertainment venue located in the Ashar Valley.
Although intense, the stage also had a lighter moment when the peloton was joined by a herd of donkeys who decided to join in the fun and run along the roadside.
Reflecting on the Saudi Cycling Federation’s impressive debut on the Saudi Tour, team member Hassan Al Jumah said: “It was a wonderful experience to ride in the Saudi Tour, riding in AlUla with these international athletes and teams was unforgettable and will play a big part in our progress. There is a big gap in levels, we can see how hard the international teams work and how much experience plays a role.
“This race is a big part in our developmental pathway and if we continue in this way, we should be getting better year on year and the gap will be closer to the professionals.”
Abdulaziz AlHashim was the best placed of the Saudi team on stage five, just one minute and 50 seconds behind stage winner Simone Consoni of Cofidis (03H 10′ 13′), with fellow Saudi team-mates Al Jumah, Azzam Al Abdulmunim, Murtadha Al Shaghab and Hani Al Mrhoon finishing in a group further back.
