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Boulogne-Billancourt, October 27th 2019
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| SAUDI TOUR: ACT I
Getty Images / swisshippo |
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| Key points:
Ø The first edition of the Saudi Tour, a new race that will kick-off the cycling season and the Middle Eastern swing, will take place in 100 days. This 2.1 category race registered in the UCI calendar by the Saudi Arabian Cycling Federation will be held from 4-8 February. Ø The race will be organised by Amaury Sport Organisation whose teams have designed a star-shaped course around Riyadh, the Saudi capital, at the heart of beautiful landscapes.
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| With the creation of the Saudi Tour, a new challenge will be presented next February which will open a Middle Eastern chapter that will continue with the Tour of Oman. The world’s top riders will compete on the Riyadh city capital of Saudi Arabia roads during this new five-stage race. The size and diversity of the Saudi territory make it possible to plan new routes each year to discover a different region as well as offer cyclists varied profiles, providing several types of riders opportunities to standout.
For the 2020 edition, the exploration of the country begins in its capital Riyadh, whose region in the broad sense will be visited by the peloton. The five-stage race will be run in a desert and canyon scenery as well as urban circuits at the heart of modernity. The small hills near Riyadh will allow for alternating between stages for sprinters and more rugged courses for punchers. On roads often exposed to the wind, the ability to cope with crosswinds will be an important asset for the teams that will look to dominate the race. On the Saudi Tour, the Flemish classic-style riders will be the ones to beat.
Sabah Al-Kraidees, President of the Saudi Cycling Federation: “It is an honour for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Cycling Federation to host an international sporting event of this magnitude. The Saudi Tour is a great opportunity to publicise the country’s varied territories and historic sites and to let visitors discover our sense of hospitality. For this first edition, world-class riders from around the world will ride on the surrounding roads of the capital, Riyadh. This initiative fits perfectly with the ambition of Saudi Arabia to promote the Kingdom beyond its borders while promoting sport and especially cycling.” Yann Le Moenner, A.S.O. CEO: “For several years, the cycling seasons have enjoyed highlights from around the world. We are involved in the emergence of a new racing scene in the Middle East, which corresponds to the riders’ demand at the beginning of the year. The creation of the Saudi Tour and its sustainable installation in the calendar is part of this movement. This new race both represents an exciting organisational challenge, a coherent sporting event for an entire category of riders and a nice opportunity for the television viewers who follow the race to discover new landscapes. This is also for us an occasion to contribute to the development of cycling across the Kingdom”. |
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| Press contact | ||
| Fabrice Tiano
+33 (0) 6.33.86.28.64 |
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