Info with one day to go
January 26 th 2026 - 21:10 [GMT + 3]
JEAN-MARC MARINO: “A GREAT BATTLE TO START THE SEASON”
The five stages of the AlUla Tour offer a variety of characteristics, suiting different types of riders. Starting with the circuit stage of the Camel Cup Track, spectators accustomed to betting on camels will be tempted to put their money on a sprinter, but the choice may not be as simple as it seems. Jean-Marc Marino, who is responsible for the race route, warns that conditions will be ideal for strong attacks in the gusts before the finish at the camel track: “It's exactly the same route as the last stage of 2025, but we're riding in the opposite direction,” he explains. “Last year, Uno-X shook up the peloton and managed to place three riders in the top four overall. Tomorrow, we’re expecting an average wind speed of 20 km/h, with gusts of up to 40 km/h. The last part is on a circuit and completely exposed, so there will inevitably be crosswinds at times, which means there should be some echelons... a great battle to start the season. There were 35 riders in contention for the win last year, and I think it will be pretty much the same this year."
JONATHAN MILAN: “I HAVE GOOD MEMORIES HERE”
All eyes are on Jonathan Milan when it comes to the likely sprint finishes on the AlUla Tour. On the list of starters, the Italian stands out as the serial winner of 2025, and everything indicates that, at 25, his progress is not over yet. The Lidl-Trek sprinter has already won in Saudi Arabia, in 2023 while wearing the Bahrain Victorious jersey. But the “green giant” who won the points classification in the last Tour de France is well aware that despite his previous achievements, the counters are reset when he tackles the AlUla Tour: "It's nice to be back, I have good memories here. It's a great opportunity to see if I'm in good shape at the start of the season. But I also remember that I've had some tougher times, especially my first stage with crosswinds in 2022. I remember it as one of the worst days of my life, but I was also very proud to have finished in the peloton."
ALAN HATHERLY: “IT'S A BONUS TO HAVE TWO CARDS TO PLAY”
The Jayco-AlUla team is not having a week like any other as it approaches the race whose name also appears on its riders' jerseys. The team includes an athlete with an extraordinary career, a mountain bike world champion and bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Games, who began his road racing career in earnest last year... at the AlUla Tour. The South African impressed, often staying in contact with future winner Tom Pidcock and only losing his place on the podium after being caught in a crosswind on the final day. That week in Saudi Arabia remains a special memory for Hatherly, who intends to capitalize on that experience to kick off his season. “It's the first race of the year, my motivation is super high, as is my energy level. We're going to try to do a good job and I think we have a good chance of playing a role in the overall classification,” explains the 6th place finisher in the 2025 AlUla Tour, who is also counting on his young British teammate to make an impact on the race. “It's a bonus for us to have two cards to play, as we also have Paul Double. In 2025, we were both at the start of the Tour of Guangxi and we ended the year with a victory.”
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JAN CHRISTEN: “WE ARE HERE TO WIN”
The UAE Emirates-XRG team's flair for spotting young talent is well established. It also knows how to give them a chance to shine when its big champions are preparing for their major goals. And on the AlUla Tour, it is a 21-year-old gem who finds himself with the responsibility of continuing his team's already successful start to the season with Jay Vine's festival in Australia. Jan Christen already experienced this pressure last year and rose to the challenge with flying colors, winning the Trofeo Calvia in Spain and then a stage of the Tour of the Algarve, all in less than a month. This year, the Swiss rider is just as determined to raise his arms in victory: "I'm obviously very excited to be here, and we're here to win. This morning we went out for a training ride, I saw that the scenery is beautiful and we checked out the climb on the last stage, which is really tough. I can't wait to get started. Obviously, in a team like ours, we're riding alongside exceptional champions and that pushes us to give our best."
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