AlUla | BETH

Swiss cyclist Jan Christen was crowned champion of the Tour of AlUla 2026 on Saturday, January 31, following the conclusion of the sixth edition of the race, hosted in the historic city of AlUla.

The race was organized by the Saudi Cycling Federation, in cooperation with Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and the Royal Commission for AlUla, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport.

Christen, riding for UAE Team Emirates XRG, secured the overall title after topping the general classification with a total time of 17 hours, 23 minutes, and 43 seconds.
Colombian rider Sergio Higuita of XDS Astana Team finished second, 15 seconds behind, while Spain’s Igor Arrieta, also of UAE Team Emirates XRG, claimed third place, 21 seconds off the lead.

In the team classification, UAE Team Emirates XRG claimed overall victory with a cumulative time of 52 hours, 12 minutes, and 8 seconds, ahead of XDS Astana Team in second place by 34 seconds. Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team finished third, two minutes and six seconds behind.

In the jersey classifications, Italian rider Jonathan Milan of Lidl–Trek won the red jersey as the points classification leader. Jan Christen secured the white jersey as the best rider under 25, while Malaysian cyclist Zi Yi Kee of Terengganu Cycling Team claimed the orange jersey for the most aggressive rider of the 2026 Tour of AlUla.

The Tour of AlUla is considered one of the most prominent professional cycling races on the international calendar, marking its first edition following its official promotion to the UCI ProSeries.
This year’s event featured 17 international teams, each comprising seven riders, for a total of 119 elite cyclists from leading teams around the world.

Hosting the race in AlUla highlights the region’s unique natural and historical diversity, as well as its exceptional terrain, offering riders a truly world-class sporting experience.

The event forms part of a series of major international sporting events overseen by the Ministry of Sport, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global sports destination and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 through collaboration with public and private sector partners.