Saudi Tour cycling event rebranded as AlUla Tour for 2024 return

The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
1 / 4
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
2 / 4
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
3 / 4
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
4 / 4
The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 20 November 2023
Follow

Saudi Tour cycling event rebranded as AlUla Tour for 2024 return

Saudi Tour cycling event rebranded as AlUla Tour for 2024 return

LONDON: The Saudi Tour cycling event has been rebranded as the AlUla Tour for its return in early 2024, it was announced on Monday.

It will be organized by the Ministry of Sport and the Royal Commission for AlUla, in cooperation with the Saudi Cycling Federation and the International Cycling Union.

The biggest cycling competition in Saudi Arabia is now in its fourth year and will be run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, welcoming 119 cyclists from 17 teams, including from the UCI World Tour and Continental Tour.

The confirmed lineup of teams, riders and stages will be announced at the end of this year.

The five-stage event is part of the UCI Asia Tour and a category 2.1 event.

Abdullah bin Ali Al-Wathlan, chairman of the Saudi Cycling Federation and vice chairman of the Arab Cycling Federation, said: “The AlUla Tour has emerged as a major local, regional and international event in recent years. We look forward to welcoming the sport’s best cyclists in one of the sport’s most unique locations, showcased to the world.

“The AlUla Tour, alongside our global cycling partners, is creating a legacy in this country with more and more people getting access to a sustainable sport that is inspiring people to move, be active and healthy.”

The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced two mass participation rides alongside the AlUla Tour for juniors and the wider public.

The RCU has also created environmentally friendly initiatives through local bike tracks, hubs, desert biking tours, mountain biking options and electric bikes at Hegra.

Phillip Jones, RCU’s chief tourism officer, said: “The new AlUla Tour promises to take cycling to another level this year.

“Welcoming the sport’s elite talent and teams on the UCI Asia Tour across five challenging stages showcases the best of AlUla as a sporting destination. We are just about to open our brand new 45 km bike track for road cyclists, which is set to be one of most stunning dedicated cycling routes in the world.

“We really believe AlUla has the potential to become the cycling capital of Saudi Arabia as we create more opportunities for people to watch, be inspired and ride with one of the country’s fastest growing sports.”

The AlUla Tour is one of the sports events on this season’s AlUla Moments calendar that also includes the AlUla Trail Race (Jan. 11-12); Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo (Jan. 17-20); and February’s Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup.


Kingdom’s Olympic committee VP announces third edition of Saudi Games for 2024

Kingdom’s Olympic committee VP announces third edition of Saudi Games for 2024
Updated 11 December 2023
Follow

Kingdom’s Olympic committee VP announces third edition of Saudi Games for 2024

Kingdom’s Olympic committee VP announces third edition of Saudi Games for 2024
  • Prince Fahd made the announcement on behalf of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal

RIYADH: Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz, vice president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and director of the Saudi Games, on Sunday announced the third edition of the games would be held in 2024.

Prince Fahd made the announcement on behalf of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, minister of sports, at the closing ceremony of the second edition on Sunday in the games’ Fan Zone.

More than 8,000 participants, competing in 53 sports, took part in this year’s edition.

Prince Fahd said he was proud of the organizational success of the Saudi Games, stressing that this achievement would not have been achieved without the support of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He also thanked everyone who contributed to the success of event.


Eddie Howe questions Newcastle United squad capacity after Tottenham Hotspur hammering

Eddie Howe questions Newcastle United squad capacity after Tottenham Hotspur hammering
Updated 11 December 2023
Follow

Eddie Howe questions Newcastle United squad capacity after Tottenham Hotspur hammering

Eddie Howe questions Newcastle United squad capacity after Tottenham Hotspur hammering
  • Richarlison’s double and goals from Heung-Min Son and Destiny Udogie ensured Newcastle slipped further away from the Champions League place

LONDON: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has for the first time hinted the Magpies’s squad is not equipped to fight on three fronts.

The Magpies were hammered in North London by Ange Postecoglou’s men, as Richarlison’s double and goals from Heung-Min Son and Destiny Udogie ensured Newcastle slipped further away from the Champions League places in the Premier League. It was also their second three-goal beating in four days, having lost at Everton on Thursday.

So with Premier League top four hopes faltering, attention turns to the Champions League on Wednesday, when a win against last season’s semifinalists, AC Milan, will ensure European football remains on Tyneside, either in the last 16 of the competition, or in the Europa League, depending on the result in the Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain encounter.

Newcastle also have the prospect of a Carabao Cup quarter final in a week and a half, with Chelsea (a) waiting in the wings.

Assessing his side’s performance, and looking at possible reasons for the last week’s disappointments, Howe has for the first time hinted his squad, after a host of injuries, is not capable of performing three times a week, as has been the case since September.

“We had our moments but we gave everything without the resources to give more,” said Howe. “It is difficult because we play on Wednesday, this is what we wanted. We hoped to have the squad to cope with that but we’ve had worse injuries than any team that I can remember.

“You have to critique like you would normally; we weren’t in rhythm around the box and lacked conviction. We didn’t defend the goals well enough. The moments were there, we had chances. There is always more, you can push yourself even when you’re tired.

“It was a difficult afternoon. The players have done so well to keep going behind a very congested period of games with some very hard fixtures for us.

“When you go back to Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bournemouth they’re all difficult fixtures and then Everton and Tottenham away in a very short period of time. We haven’t been at our best, it’s there for everybody to see. The players are giving everything they could give so I have to back them and support them but acknowledge that our performances are not where they could be.

“You want to make changes that benefit the team. Not make changes that don’t benefit the team so I’m trying to make those decisions and get them right. I’ve been backed into a very difficult position with the team selection and even in game decisions. Today it would have been easy to say: ‘You’ve got Callum and Sean, put them on the pitch.” But they’re not 100 percent fit so I’ve got to be very careful with them. Thankfully they came through and I thought their performances were really good in the game and that is a big positive in the game.”

While injuries have bitten hard, with the absence of fringe men felt as much as key performers, given Howe has been unable to allow his starters to rest, there is hope from the treatment room.

Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff both came off the bench against Spurs and it is hoped Sven Botman and summer signing Harvey Barnes are not too far behind.

“We have light at the end of the tunnel,” Howe added.

“Callum (Wilson) and (Sean) Longstaff are two huge players for us. We have to be positive, take the pain and come fighting.

“(Longstaff and Wilson) will be better for today. That was a good 30 minutes for them but we’ll have to take it game by game.”

One player who Howe will have to learn to live without, for game at least, is Kieran Trippier, who picked up his fifth booking of the campaign. He will be unavailable for next week’s visit of Fulham, but will be able to play against Milan.

“It’s a huge blow for us, Kieran is a standard for us really to get a level of consistent performance. We’ll miss his quality,” said Howe.

Two home games in a week comes on the back of an away day double header. The form on home turf compared to their travels is stark. The Magpies have lost just once at St. James’, while they’ve won just once on the road. Howe knows it’s something that needs to change if Newcastle are to challenge the top four, like they did so successfully last season.

On poor away form, Howe said: “I can’t argue with that assessment. It’s up to us to find answers to that. I can’t defend it, so I won’t.”


Man City beat Luton without Haaland to end 4-match winless run as Tottenham thrash Newcastle 4-1

Man City beat Luton without Haaland to end 4-match winless run as Tottenham thrash Newcastle 4-1
Updated 10 December 2023
Follow

Man City beat Luton without Haaland to end 4-match winless run as Tottenham thrash Newcastle 4-1

Man City beat Luton without Haaland to end 4-match winless run as Tottenham thrash Newcastle 4-1
  • The injuries are piling up for Newcastle, and so are the losses

LONDON: Without the injured Erling Haaland and trailing 1-0 to Luton at halftime, Manchester City were in danger of plunging into a full-blown crisis approaching the halfway point of their Premier League title defense.
The defending champions managed to turn it round, though, as goals by Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish in a three-minute span earned a 2-1 victory Sunday that ended their four-match winless run and trimmed the gap to first-place Liverpool to four points.
If it wasn’t for the recovery in the second half, City manager Pep Guardiola would have stumbled into the worst streak of results in his coaching career, having never gone five matches without a win.
That was the bleak scenario facing Guardiola and City after striker Elijah Adebayo headed in Andros Townsend’s cross at the back post in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to give Luton the lead at Kenilworth Road — five days after the promoted hosts blew a 3-2 lead against Arsenal to lose 4-3.
Haaland was sidelined because of a foot injury so City was without the league’s top scorer in its bid to produce a fightback.
Still, Rodri was back from suspension and when the Spain midfielder’s surge into the area was stopped by a timely challenge, Silva was there to pounce on the loose ball and curl a finish into the bottom corner in the 62nd.
Grealish then converted a cross by Julian Alvarez in the 65th.
City stayed in fourth place, with Guardiola saying Haaland will be assessed ahead of the home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
NEWCASTLE SUFFERING
The injuries are piling up for Newcastle, and so are the losses.
With the 4-1 thrashing at Tottenham, Newcastle have lost more games in the Premier League — six — than the team had in the whole of the 2022-23 campaign.
Three of them have come in the last five games and away from home as Newcastle manager Eddie Howe struggles to balance playing domestic and Champions League soccer amid an injury crisis that has led to him playing the same starting lineup in five straight games. Next up is their biggest game of the season, at home to AC Milan on Wednesday when Newcastle’s Champions League hopes are on the line.
Destiny Udogie scored for the first time in the Premier League, Richarlison added goals either side of the break and Son Heung-min converted a late penalty for Tottenham, who hadn’t won since Oct. 27 — when the team were unbeaten and top of the standings.
There have been four defeats and a draw since then, with Spurs taking the lead in each of those games but failing to hold on. Not this time, though Joelinton scored a stoppage-time consolation for Newcastle.
SURGING EVERTON
Everton are surging clear of the relegation zone, less than a month after plunging into the bottom three after being deducted 10 points for financial mismanagement.
A 2-0 win over Chelsea secured a third straight win for Everton, which has moved four points clear of third-from last Luton.
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored for the third time in five games, converting a rebound in the 54th after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a shot saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Lewis Dobbin added a second in the second minute of stoppage time.
After spending around $1 billion on players in the last three transfer windows, Chelsea aren’t even in the top half after losing three of their last four games.
The visitors also lost right back Reece James to another injury after he was forced off in the 27th minute with a suspected hamstring problem.
IN-FORM JIMENEZ
Raul Jimenez is enjoying a new lease of life at Fulham.
The Mexico international went through some lean times after sustaining a career-threatening head injury while playing for Wolverhampton in November 2020. From being one of the most sought-after strikers in the Premier League, he appeared to lose all of his confidence and was sold to Fulham in July.
With his 22nd-minute strike in Fulham’s 5-0 win over West Ham, Jimenez has four goals in his last five games and is leading a midseason resurgence from the London club.
Willian and Tosin Adarabioyo added first-half goals while Harry Wilson and Carlos Vinicius added more after the break as Fulham scored at least three goals for the fourth straight game, after doing so against Wolverhampton, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
It was a second straight 5-0 win, after thrashing Forest by that score in midweek.
Marco Silva’s team are now in 10th place and only three points behind ninth-place West Ham, whose four-match unbeaten run in the league came to an end.


Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na to play at season-ending Saudi Open in Riyadh

Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na to play at season-ending Saudi Open in Riyadh
Updated 10 December 2023
Follow

Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na to play at season-ending Saudi Open in Riyadh

Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na to play at season-ending Saudi Open in Riyadh
  • The tournament, backed by the Public Investment Fund, will take place at Riyadh Golf Club from Dec. 14 to 17

RIYADH: Golfers Henrik Stenson and Kevin Na are to participate in the Saudi Open championship.

The tournament, backed by the Public Investment Fund, will take place at Riyadh Golf Club from Dec. 14 to 17.

Stenson said: “I am greatly looking forward to playing in the Saudi Open, as it joins to the Asian Tour. This will be my first visit to the capital, Riyadh, and Riyadh Golf Club, and I am excited to see the golf course and enjoy it in front of the fans.

“Playing against the top players on the Asian Tour in the season finale is the perfect way to end 2023, and I am determined to win the cup,” he added.

The tournament will offer players a chance to secure a place on next year’s Asian Tour, with the top 65 players in the final standings of the Saudi Open earning a chance to qualify for the 2024 season.

American golfer Andy Ogletree currently leads the rankings ahead of Miguel Tabuena.

Golf Saudi has invited a new generation of Saudi golfers as well as amateur players to take part, including Khalid Waleed Atiya and Ali Al-Sakka.

Additionally, 12 other invitations have been extended to professionals and amateurs from Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar.

Tickets are now available to purchase through the WeBook ticketing platform, with daily passes starting at SR25 ($6.7), and season permits also available.


Gold medals awarded across events on penultimate day of Saudi Games action

Gold medals awarded across events on penultimate day of Saudi Games action
Updated 10 December 2023
Follow

Gold medals awarded across events on penultimate day of Saudi Games action

Gold medals awarded across events on penultimate day of Saudi Games action

RIYADH: Gold medals in events including equestrian endurance, beach volleyball and golf were awarded on Saturday during the penultimate day’s competition of the Saudi Games.

Prince Abdullah bin Fahd, president of the Saudi Equestrian Federation awarded the gold medal to the MS Endurance team at the conclusion of the endurance racing event at Al-Khaldiyah International Village in Riyadh.

Hassan and Qusai Al-Abdulbaqi won beach volleyball gold and over in the women’s competition Svetlana Ivanova and Francille Crispim came out on top. Also on Saturday, Azzam Alabdulmunim and Razan Zadah won cycling gold medals, respectively.

Othman Al-Mulla grabbed the gold medal in the men’s golf competition and Alexandra Van Oordt was victorious in the women’s, which were both held at the Riyadh Golf Club. 

Al-Ittihad’s Ammar Al-Hogbani was crowned champion over his brother Saud in the final match of the men’s tennis competition, which was held at the Tennis Courts of Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex. Nadia Laaroussi, a player for Al-Nassr, won the gold medal in the women’s competition.

The Jeddah Deaf Club team won the gold medal for the Futsal after defeating the Qatif Deaf Center in the final with a score of 7-1, while the Riyadh Deaf Club secured the bronze medal after defeating the Mecca Deaf Center with a score of 11-7 in the third-place match. 

On Saturday, there were also medals awarded at the conclusion of the youth judo, men’s and women’s padel, sailing and handball competitions.