Tour de France success helps Team Jayco AlUla drive Kingdom’s cycling ambition forward

RIYADH: Team Jayco AlUla’s success in the recent Tour de France has helped raising awareness of AlUla, the historic oasis city located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, as a major cycling destination.

The team wrapped up the three-week grand tour with its fifth podium finish, as Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to third place on the final stage into Paris on July 23.

It was the 17th top 10 finish for the team, while Simon Yates finished fourth overall.

As the official naming rights partner for the Australian-registered UCI World Tour team, AlUla is raising its profile in the world of sports, with cycling an important part of its future vision.

The region’s plans to emerge as a global cycling destination are central to AlUla’s 15-year “Journey Through Time” masterplan, which includes the development of extensive road, gravel, and mountain biking networks, in addition to key tourism-focused cycling concepts and events.

AlUla is the ideal location to take Saudi cycling to the next level, the coaching staff behind the Saudi Cycling Federation team told Arab News.

Recalling his past experience riding in AlUla, Groenewegen said: “Both my experience from last year and this year in AlUla were nothing short of incredible. The weather was perfect, the roads were a joy to ride on, and the terrain offered a mix of up-and-downs that made it a challenging, yet rewarding, ride.

“I also had the chance to visit AlUla’s Old Town, which was simply breathtaking in its beauty and historical significance. The locals were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, and I had the opportunity to ride with them, which made for a unique and memorable experience.”

The rider said that he is looking forward to returning to AlUla for future training