The Muscat Classic and AlUla Tour are set for an upgrade on the cycling calendar. From 2026 onwards, both races will be part of the UCI ProSeries. The AlUla Tour is no longer a 2.1 race but has been elevated to a 2.Pro status, while the Muscat Classic (formerly 1.1) is upgraded to a 1.Pro classification.
With these races joining the UCI ProSeries from 2026, it becomes even more attractive for teams to participate, as more UCI points will be up for grabs. The Muscat Classic also has an additional advantage: the race always takes place the day before the Tour of Oman, making it an ideal tune-up event ahead of the stage race through Oman.
We can be brief about the history of the Muscat Classic, as only three editions have been held so far. The very first edition in 2023 was won by Jenthe Biermans. A year later, the victory went to Finn Fisher-Black, and last season, Dutch rider Rick Pluimers took the win.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 |  Rick Pluimers |
| 2024 |  Finn Fisher-Black |
| 2023 |  Jenthe Biermans |
The background of the AlUla Tour goes further back. The race originally stems from the Tour de Saudi Arabia, first held in 1999. Egyptian Amer El Nadi claimed the win that year. After a one-year absence, the race returned to the calendar in 2001, with another edition in 2002.
Tom Pidcock was the standout rider at this year's AlUla Tour – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
In the following ten years, the Tour de Saudi Arabia was not held. The subsequent comeback was short-lived – the race was on the calendar once again in 2013 – but at the end of 2019, ASO announced that the race would be definitively revived. The ‘new’ event was named the Saudi Tour. Since 2019, several big names have won here, including Phil Bauhaus, Maxim Van Gils, Ruben Guerreiro, Simon Yates, and Tom Pidcock.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 |  Tom Pidcock |
| 2024 | Simon Yates |
| 2023 |  Ruben Guerreiro |
| 2022 | Maxim Van Gils |
| 2020 |  Phil Bauhaus |
The sixth edition of the ‘new’ AlUla Tour will take place from January 27 to 31, 2026. The next edition of the Muscat Classic is scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2026. Further details about both races are still pending. We will have to wait for the route presentations for more information.
