Results AlUla Tour 2026 Stage 5 | Jan Christen overturns GC as he wins solo on Harrat Uwayrid

The AlUla Tour was turned on its head on the final climb of the race as Jan Christen attacked on Harrat Uwayrid, won Stage 5 solo and, in the process, overturned the general classification to claim overall victory.

Just four seconds separated race leader Yannis Voisard from Afonso Eulalio at the start of the day, with Sergio Higuita only two seconds further back. On paper, the stage to Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid carried the highest profile score in race history and more than 1100 metres of vertical gain. In reality, it proved even more decisive than expected.

An early break of Dries De Bondt, Milan Fretin, Javier Ibanez, Federico Iacomoni, Lars Vanden Heede, Rayan Boulahoite and Juan Pedro Lozano was never allowed too much freedom. Bahrain Victorious and Tudor Pro Cycling Team set the tempo from distance, and as the race passed Al Manshiyah Train Station, the peloton was already strung out with the gap falling steadily.

By 20 kilometres to go, the break had almost been absorbed, and more teams began to sense opportunity. Team Picnic PostNL appeared on the front as well, with Bjorn Koerdt sitting only 15 seconds down on GC, underlining how finely balanced the race remained before the climb.

The first savage ramps of Harrat Uwayrid immediately split the race. The peloton was reduced to barely a dozen riders grinding upwards at little more than walking pace on gradients that repeatedly hit double figures and peaked at 25 percent.

Higuita was the first of the GC contenders to make a move. Christen responded. Behind them, Eulalio began to struggle to hold position as the elastic snapped across the group.

Then the yellow jersey cracked.

Voisard lost contact on the steepest section just as UAE Team Emirates increased the pressure at the front through Christen and Igor Arrieta, with Mauri Vansevenant also present. At the intermediate sprint on the climb, Vansevenant took the bonus seconds as gaps were already opening between the main contenders.

From there, Christen did not hesitate. He pressed on alone, distancing the remnants of the front group while, behind him, the general classification battle turned into a fight for survival.

Christen crested the summit solo to take the stage victory, with Byron Munton arriving second, but the real story was unfolding further down the climb as Voisard, Eulalio and Higuita tried to limit their losses.

By the finish, the time gaps were sufficient not only to decide the stage, but to completely overturn the overall standings.

Christen, who had started the day 33 seconds down on GC, left AlUla as the overall winner of the race after the most decisive climb in its history once again determined the outcome.