RIYADH: Portuguese cyclist Rui Costa leads the field after day one of the inaugural Saudi Tour, which got under way on Tuesday. The UAE Team Emirates rider completed the 173 kilometer first stage, from Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh to Jaww, in a time of 3 hours 52 minutes.
Australian cyclist Heinrich Haussler, who rides for team Bahrain-McLaren, finished in second place, one minute behind the leader. Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni, of Team Arkea-Samsic, was third, six minutes off the pace. Danish rider Andreas Lorentz Kron, of Riwal Readynez Cycling Team leads the youth section, and finished in seventh place overall.
A total of 126 contestants in 18 international teams are competing in the 760 km, five-stage race. Wednesday’s 187 km second stage will begin at Sadus Castle and finish at Al-Bujairi historical district of Diriyah Governorate. On Thursday, stage three will start from King Saud University and cover 119 km before finishing at Al-Bujairi.
Stage four stretches for 137 km between Wadi Namar Park in Riyadh and King Saud University in Al-Muzahimiyah. The final stage, on Saturday, will begin at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University and cover 144 km before finishing at Al-Masmak Fort.
The race has been organized by the General Sport Authority, in coordination with the Saudi Cycling Federation, under the patronage of international sports cycling governing body Union Cycliste Internationale, as part of the Kingdom’s Quality of Life Program 2020.
Stage 1
1. Rui Costa (POR/UAE) 3hr 52 min 12sec, 2. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/BAH) same time, 3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) s.t., 4. Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED/BBH) s.t., 5. Carlos Barbero (ESP/NTT) s.t.
General classification
1. Rui Costa (POR/UAE) 3hr 52 min 12sec, 2. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/BAH) at 1sec, 3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) 6, 4. Andreas Kron (DEN/Riwal) 9, 5. Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED/BBH) 10.
