Malucelli delivers at last, Voisard still in command

January 30 ^th 2026 - 17:41 [GMT + 3]

There is no calm day on the Al Ula Tour and stage 4 from Winter Park to Hegra was another perfect example of that. After 16 riders powered away from the pack in the early moments of the day, echelons struck again after over 70kms. Not a problem for most of the big guns including Green Jersey Yanis Voisard (Tudor) or Jonathan Milan. Much more troubling for the likes of second man overall Sergio Higuita or Bjorn Koerdt (4th of the GC). Thankfully the upcoming headwind saved the dropped men and the pack bunched together again. A sprint royal was then on the menu and thanks to his perfectly timed effort, Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana) used the slipstream to outsprint Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) and Frits Biesterbos (Picnic Post.nl). The Italian sprinter claims the 18th success of his career and certainly the most prestigious one. Finishing comfortably in the bunch, overall leader Voisard keeps the race leadership before the final day tomorrow that finishes at the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid.

For the second consecutive day, Winter Park hosted the start of a stage of this 2026 Al Ula Tour. In a picturesque landscape the 108 remaining riders (3 non starters: Theuns, Rex and Hamdan) took off for the 171km stage 4, all the way to Hegra. The battle started as soon as kilometre 1 and it took a few kilometres for 16 riders to bunch up together at the front. In the leading group were Borgo (TBV), Liepins (PQT), De Bondt, Double (both JAY), Johansen (UAE), Svrcek (SOQ), De Jong (TPP), Mikutis (TUD), Meehan (COF), Le Berre (TEN), Berwick, Ibanez (both CJR), Carpenter, Christian (both MAP), Iacomoni (TUK) and Bregnhoj (TSG). The front 16 reached the first bonus spint (km 18.9) won by Le Berre with a 1’30” lead over the pack led by Tudor and XDS-Astana. The gap reached a maximum of 2’10” at km 30 and stabilized around 2’ until km70 when the race turned left and echelons occurred.

ECHELONS TRAP HIGUITA AND KOERDT
While Bjoern Koerdt (fourth overall) suffered a very unfortunate puncture at the worst moment, others like runner-up overall Sergio Higuita (XDS Astana), Igor Arrieta (UAE), Castellon (CJR), Garibbo (TUK) and Mulueberhane (XAT), all in the Top 10, were dropped behind, leaving 26 riders power away. A fierce and fast (51.7km/h after 2 hours of racing) battle in the wind resumed and the front group could still enjoy a 1’30” advantage over the Voisard/Milan group and 2’25” over the Higuita group at km 75. A change in direction saw the escapees caught by the first chasing group at km 108 while the Higuita group remained a minute behind. But the headwind calmed the situation down. At the second Intermediate Active sprint (km 123), won by De Bondt (JAY), the gap had dropped down to 15” and both groups bunched together again at km 126.

BUNCHED TO THE LINE
On the final kilometres heading to Hegra, Zeb Kyffin (TSG) gave it a go at km 156 and after enjoying a 30” advantage three kilometres later, the British rider reached the third Intermediate Active sprint with only 15” over the pack led by the Tudor boys. He was to be caught shortly later. It eventually came down to a bunched sprint. Well led out by his Lidl Trek team mates, Jonathan Milan was the first to take off, but perfectly placed in the slipstream of his fellow Italian, Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana) pounced at the best possible moment to conquer the stage. The 32-year-old from Forli claims his first success in Saudi Arabia after finishing 2nd of a stage back in 2023, beating Milan and Frits Biesterbos (Picnic Post.nl) to the line. It’s Malucelli’s 18th pro win but without doubt the most prestigious one.

VOISARD LEADS WITH A DAY TO GO
Finishing 35th of the stage in the same time as the day’s winner, Yanis Voisard keeps the overall leader’s Green Jersey. Going into tomorrow’s final and demanding stage to the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, the Swiss rider still has a 4” lead over Eulalio (Bahrain) and 6” over Higuita. The points classification is still dominated by Milan, while Eulalio remains the best young rider and Kee, the Most Active rider of this 2026 Al Ula Tour.

VOISARD TAKES OVERALL COMMAND
At age 27, Yanis Voisard clinches the second success of his career (after a stage win in Hungary, back in 2023). The Swiss climber also takes command of the GC with two stages to go. He now has a 4” advantage over Eulalio and 6’’ over Higuita. Winner of two stages so far and certainly hoping for another tomorrow, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) still leads the points classification while Eulalio becomes the best young rider of the Al Ula Tour. Stage 4 tomorrow will take the riders from Winter Park to Hegra for what promises to be a great battle in the wind: a day for the big and fast boys of the peloton.