In a day filled with excitement and challenges, Swiss cyclist Yannis Voizard , star of the Tudor Pro Cycling team, delivered an exceptional performance to claim first place in the third stage of the of the AlUla Tour 2026. This crucial stage took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, as part of this global sporting event organized by the Saudi Cycling Federation in cooperation with the prestigious ASO organization and the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport.
General context and importance of the Al-Ula tour
The Tour of AlUla, formerly known as the Saudi Tour, is one of the most prominent sporting events on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar in Asia. The race aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , which aims to establish the Kingdom as a leading global destination for tourism, sports, and entertainment. The partnership with the ASO, the organizers of the renowned Tour de France, lends the Tour of AlUla international prestige and ensures the participation of elite international teams and cyclists, thus raising the level of competition and showcasing the Kingdom's exceptional organizational capabilities.
Details of the third stage and the fierce competition
The third stage covered a distance of 142 kilometers, with competitors setting off from the Winter Park towards Bir Jida and Jebel Warka. The route was characterized by its diverse terrain, combining flat roads with challenging mountain passes, a hallmark of the AlUla Tour, which tests riders' endurance and tactical prowess. Yannis Voizard finished the stage in a record time of 3 hours and 22 minutes, brilliantly outperforming his closest rivals: Portugal's Afonso Yolalio of Bahrain Victories, who finished second, and Colombia's Sergio Higuita of XDS Astana, who came in third.
Event impact and shirt arrangement
The impact of this event extends beyond the sporting aspect, serving as a global platform to promote AlUla as a unique tourist destination, where sporting competitions harmonize with breathtaking natural scenery and archaeological sites dating back thousands of years. At the end of the stage, the distinctive jerseys were awarded to the leaders in the various categories. Italian Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) claimed the red jersey for the points classification leader. With his stage victory, Swiss rider Yannis Voizard secured the green jersey as the overall leader in the individual classification. The white jersey for the best young rider (under 25) went to Portuguese Afonso Yolalio, while Malaysian Ze Ye Kee (Terengganu Team) earned the orange jersey for the most active rider.
A look to the future
All eyes are now on the fourth stage, taking place tomorrow, Friday, which presents a new challenge for the competitors with a longer distance of 184 kilometers, starting from the Winter Park and finishing at the enchanting Sajiliyat rock formations. As the tour nears its final stages, the competition for the title intensifies, amid great anticipation to see who will be crowned champion of the 2026 AlUla Tour, the land of civilizations.
