The Wolfpack is ready for the first of its four races in the Middle East.
The AlUla Tour – which this year is part of the Pro Series calendar – is scheduled to take place between 27-31 January and will consist of five stages. The race is going to be again friendly to the sprinters, who’ll get three opportunities to leave their mark on this sixth edition: Camel Cup Track, Al Manshiyah Train Station and Shalal.
Bir Jaydah Mountain Wirkah, which last year ended up playing an important role in the fight for the overall classification, features again but this time without the local circuit and tackled from the opposite direction, meaning that the final climb will be longer and harder in the closing two kilometers. The queen stage remains the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, and the race is likely to be won there, thanks to its presence on the last day of the AlUla Tour.
Soudal Quick-Step will be at the start of the Saudi race with Gianmarco Garofoli, one of the most combative riders of last year’s Giro d’Italia, newcomer Laurenz Rex, Martin Svrcek, Bert Van Lerberghe, Warre Vangheluwe, Mauri Vansevenant and Devo rider Lars Vanden Heede – a solid squad that can be in the mix next week.
“AlUla Tour is the first of our four races in the Middle East, an event that we like and where we had a lot of success in the past. There will be opportunities for all kinds of riders and we are motivated to do our best next week. We go there with a balanced and confident squad and we hope to fight for a good result in the stages, but also in the general classification”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
Photo credit: ©Cédric Depraetere
