photo credits @ Al Ula Tour
In impressive fashion overall leader Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) made the best of the extremely steep climb to the Skyviews of Harrad Uwayrid to capture his second stage success at the AlUla Tour and comfort his Green jersey. The British double Olympic champion in Mountain bike started pulling away halfway up the climb never to be caught despite the headwind on the very long straight to the finish. Pidcock crossed the line with a 12-second advantage over Alan Hatherly (Jayco AlUla) and Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious). With one stage to go, he can enjoy a 29-second overall lead over his closest rival.
After Hegra yesterday, the riders of the 2025 AlUla Tour were gifted with another spectacular start for their fourth stage of the week. Indeed in the middle of Ashar Valley, the impressive mirror building of the Maraya Concert Hall was the place to be. The 116 remaining riders of the race took off at 1:03 PM for another demanding stage including the very steep climb up to the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid. A day for the climbers and for the GC contenders, the first of course being Green jersey Tom Pidcock.
INTENSE BATTLE FOR THE BREAKAWAY
It was an intense battle as soon as km 0 with the first Intermediate Active sprint being set at km 20. That first sprint was claimed by Saenta (TSG) ahead of Romele (XAT) and Orange jersey wearer Reinders (WB2). Eventually, three riders powered away: Romele and Vinokourov (XAT) and Reinders. They would later be caught (at km 55) by 5 other riders: Koishi (JCL), Abd Halim (TSG), Miltiadis and Thimachai (ROI) and Renard Haquin (WB2), while the pack remained at 1’30”.
MORE POINTS FOR MOST ACTIVE RIDER REINDERS
At the second Intermediate Active sprint (km 71), Reinders collected three extra points while the pack led by teams Q36.6 and Jayco-Al Ula had moved closer at 1’20. Five riders remained at the front enjoying a 1’ lead with 20kms to go while Vinokourov, Miltiadis and Thimachai failed to keep up with the pace. The final escapees were eventually caught at km 130 just as the road started going uphill. On the steepest parts of the climb, Tom Pidcock took command of the front group of around thirty riders.
PIDCOCK UNSTOPPABLE
The Brit then powered away halfway up the hill. He reached the top with a 20” advantage over a group of four including Hatherly, Dunbar (both Jayco-AlUla) and Kepplinger (TBV), capturing three extra seconds at the bonus sprint. On the final straight and despite the headwind with 8kms to go, Pidcock managed to keep a decent enough lead. He eventually crossed the finish line well clear of Hatherly, second and Kepplinger third.
GREEN JERSEY SOLIDLY ON SHOULDERS OF PIDCOCK
After his success at Bir Jaydah Mountain on Wednesday, Pidcock adds a second win to his season, the 7th of his pro career. The 25-year-old increases his overall lead. He now has a 29sec advantage over Kepplinger and 32” over Hatherly with only one stage to go. Pidcock is now the joint leader of the points classification alongside Tim Merlier (Soudal- Quickstep), also a two-time stage winner on this edition. The White jersey for the best young rider changes shoulders and goes from those of Adne Holter to those of his Uno X Mobility team-mate Johannes Kulset. Jens Reinders comforts his lead in the Most Active Rider’s standings
7 RIDERS IN THE BREAKAWAY
And there would be a lot of battling to be in the breakaway of the day. Eventually after 7 kilometers, seven riders managed to pull away: Aznar (EKP), Ibanez Beltran (CJR), Koishi and Yamamoto (JCL), Miltiadis and Richards (ROI) and Reinders (WB2), once again in the front group. In his quest for points and the Most Active Rider’s jersey, Reinders was the fastest at the first Intermediate Active Sprint (km 22) virtually capturing the Orange jersey. Meanwhile, the peloton led by teams Q36.5, Soudal-Quickstep and Jayco-AlUla remained 2’35” adrift but the chase had started.
REINDERS BATTLES FOR POINTS
At the second Intermediate Active sprint, again won by Reinders, the gap had dropped to 1’45. The front seven remained under the control of the peloton and as expected the pace picked up considerably as the wind started blowing sideways after a left-hand turn. While the pack remained bunched, the front riders started struggling and only Reinders, Ibanez Beltran and Aznar reached the bonus sprint (km 122) together where Reinders again conquered maximum points and bonus seconds.
MAJKA AND DUNBAR DROPPED
While all the escapees were finally caught at km 143, another change in direction saw the sprinter’s teams power to the front trying to create echelons. Indeed small bunches were dropped including the likes of Rafal Majka (UAE-XRG) and fourth man overall, Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla). A group of around sixty riders remained together all the way to the finish by Tayma Fort. In the final kilometers, Green Jersey Tom Pidcock had a bit of a fright when he suffered a puncture but thankfully the Brit was in the final three kilometers and therefore was put in the same time as the winning group. And there would be more drama in the last kilometer when Eekhoff (Picnic – Post.nl) crashed.
TIM AND TOM IN COMMAND
After his impressive success on day one of the race at Al Manshyah Train Station, Tim Merlier again proved he was the man to beat in bunched sprints. The Belgian made the difference in the final straight beating Dylan Groenewegen and Juan-Sebastian Molano to the line. The European Champion captures the 52nd victory of his career and already his second this season. Thanks to his win, Merlier moves back into the leadership of the points classification and will be wearing the Red Jersey on tomorrow’s stage. Tom Pidcock remains the overall leader of the event (Green Jersey) while Adne Holter (Uno X Mobility) keeps the best young rider’s White jersey. After another busy day in the breakaway Reinders conquers the Most Active rider’s Orange jersey.
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