The fourth edition of the race that before this year was known as the Saudi Tour comes with a route that has something for everyone.
Tim Merlier will lead Soudal Quick-Step at the five-day race that starts on January 30, and the two-time Belgian Champion – victorious on eleven occasions during his first season with the team – will once again rely on his good friend and strong lead-out man Bert Van Lerberghe, who last year was instrumental in many of his successes.
Ayco Bastiaens, Piccolo Giro di Lombardia winner William Junior Lecerf, Martin Svrcek – bronze medalist at last year’s U23 World Championships – Warre Vangheluwe and Jordi Warlop will round out the seven-man squad for our second outing in Saudi Arabia.
The five-day race promises to be friendly to the sprinters, who’ll get two, possibly quite three opportunities to take center stage. Early in the week, the punchers will have a chance of going for victory and the leader’s jersey on the uphill finish in the Sharaan Nature Reserve, but the ones fighting for the general classification will once again be the real climbers. And that’s because on the lasts stage of the race, just before the finish in Harrat Uwayrid, a 2.8km ascent averaging 12.5% but featuring a kilometer at 17%, is going to shake up the standings and widen the gaps between those in contention.
“We are going to Saudi Arabia with a solid team. The guys are excited to start their season and we hope for some nice results there. Tim is our leader and he will try, supported by a strong lead-out, to be in the mix on the flat. We’re also eager to see our new guys in action, it will be a good test for them”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Davide Bramati.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
