Anyone who saw it will surely have been enchanted by it. Those who discovered it by watching the TV images of the Saudi tour you will surely have felt a sense of curiosity and a desire to discover. AlUla It is an ancient oasis city located in northwest Saudi Arabia., hosts some of the most important world heritage sites that they hold 200.000 years of human history largely unexplored and 7.000 years of uninterrupted human civilization. The Nabatean Kingdom, for example, which left impressive monuments at Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia and the largest preserved site of the Nabatean civilization south of Petra.
The landscape of AlUla offers the ideal environment for a wide range of sporting activities, including extreme sports suitable for everyone, running, trekking, climbing, hiking, equestrian activities and, of course, cycling. We interviewed Phillip Jones, RCU Chief Tourism Officer of the Royal Commission for AlUla, who virtually accompanied us to this unique place ready to enchant the world with its pedal-powered rides. Let's discover what AlUla has in store for two-wheelers, including new opportunities, future and present visions such as the Team Jayco AlUla.
Why did you choose a sport like cycling to promote AlUla?
AlUla is a place with immense cultural and natural heritage in northwest Saudi Arabia. Cycling is essential to AlUla as a sustainable, healthy and environmentally friendly activity.It helps us protect the natural heritage that it is our duty to preserve for future generations.
AlUla offers the perfect environment for a wide range of sporting activities. How is it ideal for cycling?
AlUla is an ideal location thanks to its beautiful natural landscape, characterized by sandstone mountains, Volcanic plateaus and winding roads perfect for road, mountain, and gravel biking. This makes it an ideal cycling destination for enthusiasts from all over the world, especially because it offers routes suitable for all cyclists: from amateurs, to enthusiasts and professionals.
The bicycle also represents a message of protection for the environment and this magnificent historical territory…
Absolutely. Our strategy is to grow AlUla as a sustainable destinationThis means doing everything possible to protect and maintain the environment and historical and cultural heritage intact.
How did the sponsorship with Team Jayco – AlUla come about?
The second name sponsorship deal with GreenEDGE Cycling, a leading international team, based in Australia, It was born from the desire to make AlUla known to cycling spectators road bikers and sports enthusiasts from all over the world. We also share several values with them, including our approach to sustainability and the empowerment of women in cycling.Road cycling is followed by 1,7 billion viewers worldwide and introducing them to AlUla through our sponsorship is invaluable. Spectators and participants from the cycling world tend to be curious and adventurous explorers who will love visiting AlUla.
In addition to the men's team, do you also have an eye for women's cycling?
One of the reasons we chose Team Jayco AlUla is that developed the first women's cycling team and is a great champion of the UCI Women's cycling's Cycling Tours and women in all sports. AlUla is a keen supporter of Saudi women and talent in cycling. As we have seen with Moroj Adil, a young Saudi cyclist, who had the chance to meet the team, participate in important presentations and follow an excellent training program alongside cycling stars from Team Jayco AlUla. We hope that her story will lead us to the discovery of new talents to include in the world of women's cycling. The participation of Women's cycling's participation in sports in Saudi Arabia has increased by 150% and we intend to encourage it too.
You've hosted many successful cycling events. Which ones and why?
AlUla has hosted several successful cycling events, including the Saudi Tour, category 2.1 race on the UCI calendar, in 2022 and 2023. This new addition to the world cycling calendar gives us a tremendous opportunity to showcase our beautiful landscapes to the world through global reach. Also in 2023, AlUla hosted the Cycling Tourism Symposium, involving influential figures from the global cycling communityAlUla promotes everything related to sustainability. Two-wheeled transport and entertainment are an integral part of AlUla's fifteen-year Journey Through Time Masterplan, announced in April 2021, which puts sustainability at the forefront.
Are you planning to create a cycling movement? For example, with dedicated infrastructure...
Cycling is fundamental to AlUla. Projects are currently underway to develop three disciplines: road cycling, gravel and mountain bikingWe are investing in the creating infrastructure, such as bike paths, desert bike tours, mountain bikes and even electric bikes to visit Hegra to support year-round cycling and encourage people to use them for transportation and enjoyment in a safe and healthy environment. A bicycle park is currently in operation. bike hub where you can rent a bike and take a ride on the dedicated cycle path that is over 40 kilometers long.
