photo credits @ Al Ula Tour
The first hilly stage of the 2025 AlUla Tour saw Tom Pidcock shine under his new Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team colors. The British rider made the best of the final climb up Bir Jaydah Mountain to power away with 500m to go. He eventually crossed the finish line triumphantly beating Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious) and World Mountain-bike champion Alan Hatherly (Jayco-AlUla). Thanks to his first win of the season, Pidcock takes command of the GC and will be wearing the overall leader’s Green Jersey.
After a first day of intense racing on Tuesday, some of the 118 riders of the Al Ula Tour had the pleasure of visiting the picturesque streets of the Old Town that welcomed the start of the day’s stage. Moments of calm before the battle on stage 2: a 157kms ride all the way to the south-west of Al Ula where a final difficult circuit including three climbs up Bir Jaydah Mountain Wikrah would welcome the riders for one of the toughest stages of the event.
FIVE MEN IN THE LEAD
As soon as kilometer 3, five riders pulled away from the pack: Raccani (JCL), Rosli and Abd Halim (TSG), Thimachai (ROI) and Reynders (WB2). Their lead grew to 2’05” as soon as kilometer 7.5. At the first Intermediate Active Sprint (km 77), won by Most Active Rider (Orange Jersey) Muhammad Rosli who was already present in yesterday’s breakaway, the gap had reached 3’20”. The frontmen then started struggling. Thimachain was the first to be dropped shortly followed by Rosli and Abd Halim, leaving only two men in the lead while the peloton led by teams Q36.5, Jayco-AlUla and Picnic Post.nl moved closer.
RACE NEUTRALIZED
Once on the final circuit, after Raccani made it first to the second Intermediate Active Sprint at the first passage of the line (km 103), a decision was taken to shorten the distance of the race due to a lot of gravel on the descent and based on the safety concerns of the riders. There would therefore only be one extra lap to be covered (instead of two) and the descent would be neutralized. After that neutralization, with five kilometers to go, the front two could only count on a lead of 28”. They were eventually caught three kilometers from the finish.
PIDCOCK UNLEASHED
On the final climb up Bir Jaydah Mountain, Rafal Majka (UAD) set an intense pace with only a few riders managing to follow. After Kepplinger (TBV) was the first to attack, the decisive move came with 500m to go when Tom Pidcock made his effort. He managed to pull away in the last 300m and victoriously crossed the line, beating Kepplinger by 4” and a man who had beaten him at the UCI Mountain-Bike World Championships last year: South Africa’s Alan Hatherly by 7”.
NEW OVERALL LEADER
Pidcock claims the 6th professional road win of his career after successes such as a stage at the 2022 Tour de France or the Amstel Gold race last year. By doing so the 25-year-old double Olympic Champion (2020 and 2024) captures the overall leader’s Green Jersey and can now enjoy an 8” lead over his closest rival Kepplinger. The Brit also leads the points classification while Adne Holter (UXM) becomes the new best young rider (White Jersey). Muhammad Rosli keeps the Most Active Rider’s Orange jersey on his shoulders.
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