What to expect from the 2026 AlUla Tour? Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier headline desert sprints

Cycling off-season is over, the 2026 has started. And while the main audience in Europe will have to wait for racing a little bit longer, the season will get underway with a number of so-called "season-openers", including the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia. While the race doesn't bring many novelties to its race format in itself, the promotion to 2.Pro category, and expected star-filled startlist are bound to make it an exciting race to watch at the end of January.

Just like has become a tradition over the past years, the startlist in Saudi Arabia will be very strong, although the biggest GC names will naturally prefer a more climbing-oriented schedule. But the startlist quality has nevertheless taken a small step forward with the race's introduction to Pro series.

For the 2026 edition, there will 7 WorldTour teams (Bahrain Victorious, Lidl-Trek, Team Jayco-AlUla, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Soudal Quick-Step, Team Picnic-PostNL, XDS Astana Team), one more than in 2025.

Further, 6 ProTeams (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, TotalEnergies, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Cofidis, Modern Aventure Pro Cycling) will make the trip to Middle East. The startlist will be completed through the presence of 2 of the best Asian Continental lineups (Terengganu Cycling Team, Team UKYO), and the national teams of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The race begins on January 27th with last year's final stage, starting and finishing on the AlUla Camel Cup Track with sprinters expected to steal the spotlight. Last year's winner of this stage is Matteo Moschetti who will have a hard time defending his throne against Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan.

The second stage will once again be a showdown for sprinters, and the same is expected of stage 4. While Merlier triumphed at the venue of stage 2 in 2025, Milan will recall the drag finish in Shalal Sijlyat Rocks from his 2023 participation.

Then finally, the race will culminate on days 3 and 5 with the infamous Saudi wall-climbs. First, the Bir Jaydah Mountain Wirkah finish makes a return on January 29 after its disappointing 2025 debut saw the stage cut short and briefly neutralized due to safety concerns caused by the state of roads used.

The stage design has been reworked ahead of 2026, and instead of a circuit taken on last year, there will be a single ascent, approached from the opposite, much more benevolent side of the mountain. Instead of slopes going up to 15%, riders will face much more tolerable 4.9km climb at 5.9% with final two kilometers going above 7%.

And finally, stage 5 will once again feature one of the most photogenic finishes in the world of cycling. Riders will have to conquer the mythical Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid (3km at 12%). But the most exciting part often comes afterwards, with an open 9 kilometer flat/downhill section where tactical games and fight for victory truly unfold. And as this will be the final stage of 2026 edition, the GC will be decided as well.

The defending champion Tom Pidcock will have different schedule in 2026, understandably so after his Vuelta podium. However his team Pinarello-Q36.5 can still shoot high in the general classification with Eddie Dunbar whose loss of a minute in crosswinds cost him a 4th place in the general classfication last year.

Among his main challengers will be the duo Paul Double and Alan Hatherly (6th oveall in 2025 after time loss in crosswinds) representing "home" team Jayco AlUla. Other confirmed names expected to contest the overall victory are Jan Christen (UAE), Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain), or young Spaniard Jaume Guardeño (Caja Rural).

As for sprint finishes, the pressure will be above all on Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan, the two fastest men in the peloton. But the duo will find strong rivals in Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello-Q36.5), Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor), Milan Fretin (Cofidis), or Astana's speedster Matteo Malucelli.