Jan Christen Pulls Off Remarkable Double in Final Stage of AlUla Tour

Jan Christen won the AlUla Tour from a losing position. The Swiss rider, who had already lost time in the previous days, couldn’t quite keep up with the favorites on the final climb but made a comeback and then rode solo on the flat to claim the stage and overall victory.

Saturday featured the queen stage. As in previous editions, the stage was designed to finish at Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid. This could mean only one thing: the sting is in the tail again. Less than nine kilometers from the finish lies the summit of a brutally steep ascent (2.9 kilometers at 12%)., followed by a flat finale.

Early in the stage, several riders took off in a breakaway. Among them were three Belgians: Lars Vanden Heede from Soudal-Quick-Step’s development team, sprinter Milan Fretin (Cofidis), and natural attacker Dries De Bondt (Jayco AlUla). Led by Bahrain Victorious and Tudor Pro Cycling (team of leader Voisard), the seven-man group never gained more than three minutes’ advantage. Yet they worked well together, holding their gap until the slopes of the final climb.

On that brutally steep final climb, the group quickly shattered. Of the original seven, only Federico Iacomoni and Juan Lozano remained at the front. The Spaniard and Italian fought hard on sections exceeding twenty percent gradient but couldn’t match the climbing power of UAE Emirates XRG, which set Domen Novak to the front.

Christen attacks, drops back, and attacks again.
At 300 meters from the summit came the first attack in the favorites' group, where leader Voisard and Afonso Eulalio had, by then, dropped back. The attack came from none other than Jan Christen. However, the Swiss rider quickly stalled and was countered by Sergio Higuita, Mauri Vansevenant, and Henok Mulubrhan. Still, Christen rejoined after the top and immediately launched another move.

In the final kilometers, Christen built a significant lead over the group containing Higuita — who, at the time, was the front-runner to win the tour. The Colombian was caught off guard and had to watch from Harrat Uwayrid as Christen landed a double blow.